The Best Views of Kyoto

While primarily famous as a historic temple, the massive wooden stage jutting out from the main hall provides one of the most iconic views in Japan. Suspended high above a steep hillside on massive wooden pillars, the deck looks out over a sea of trees that explode into colour during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. Beyond the vibrant canopy, the cityscape stretches out into the distance, punctuated by the needle of Kyoto Tower. Standing on this grand balcony offers a powerful, dramatic perspective that perfectly blends the city's ancient spirituality with its natural beauty.

Standing tall directly opposite the main train station, this iconic, needle-like structure is the tallest building in the entire city. The observation deck sits 100 metres above ground, providing unparalleled 360-degree panoramic views over the vast urban grid and the mountains that encircle the basin. On a clear day, you can spot the distant skyscrapers of Osaka to the south. It offers free-to-use telescopes, allowing you to pick out famous temples nestled against the hillsides. The view is particularly spectacular at sunset as the city lights slowly flicker on.

Requiring a moderately steep hike, this incredible vantage point sits on the eastern mountains and is famous for hosting the massive bonfire festival in August. The clearing on the mountainside offers a wide, sweeping view over the entire city grid, stretching out towards the western Arashiyama mountains. It provides a phenomenal sense of the city's geographical scale and layout. The hike itself is incredibly rewarding, escaping the dense urban crowds for quiet forest trails. Reaching the top with a packed lunch and taking in the panoramic sweep is a favoured activity for adventurous locals.

Located high up in the eastern Higashiyama mountains, this historically significant site features a massive, wooden observation deck built alongside the Seiryu-den temple hall. The platform extends over the steep hillside, providing breathtaking, unobstructed views of the city laid out below. This is supposedly the exact spot where Emperor Kanmu stood in the 8th century to survey the basin before deciding to build his new capital here. The deck is considerably larger and far less crowded than the famous stage at Kiyomizu-dera, making it an excellent, serene spot for photography.

Located across the river in the scenic Arashiyama district, reaching this viewpoint requires a vigorous 20-minute hike up a forested trail. Upon reaching the summit, you are rewarded not only with a fantastic, elevated view over the winding Katsura River and the city beyond, but also the company of hundreds of free-roaming Japanese macaques. The monkeys are wild but accustomed to humans, offering a wildly entertaining element to the panoramic scenery. It is a fantastic, slightly unconventional vantage point that brilliantly combines nature, wildlife, and sweeping vistas.

Suspended high beneath the soaring glass roof of the colossal train station, this completely free pedestrian walkway offers a brilliant urban viewpoint. The glass-enclosed tunnel provides fascinating perspectives looking directly down into the cavernous, futuristic station concourse. More importantly, it offers numerous viewing windows looking outwards across the city streets, with the Kyoto Tower looming directly ahead. It is an incredibly convenient, easily accessible spot to capture the impressive scale of the city's modern heart, particularly striking as the sunset glints off the glass architecture.