9 Kyoto Hidden Gems for Exploring off the Beaten Path

Swarms of tourists aren’t exactly what you picture when thinking of Kyoto’s winding ancient streets, tranquil bamboo groves, and enchanting temples… and yet, they are exactly what you’ll find in most of the popular areas of Kyoto.

But Kyoto is surprisingly large, with plenty of offbeat moss-adorned temples, charming AND uncrowded Edo-era streets, and even quieter areas of the most popular spots like historic Gion and the red torii-lined trails of Fushimi Inari.

In this article I’m sharing my favorite Kyoto hidden gems after exploring Kyoto with my local friends, and lovely local guides—including uncrowded bamboo groves, hidden gem shrines and temples, and a fun river boat ride through the mountains!

Kyoto Hidden Gems

1. Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street, Temples & Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama’s Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street is an adorable Meiji-era street that leads to two of Kyoto’s most enchanting (yet least visited) temples! It almost feels like a mini Gion without the crowds!

At the end of the street is Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, home to 1,200 small moss-covered stone statues, each depicting a real person who made a pilgrimage to this temple! These statues were created by sculptor-turned-monk, Kocho Nishimura in the late 1900s, but the temple itself dates back to 766 Kyoto!

A short walk brings you to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, another unique small Buddhist temple adorned with ~8,000 mossy stone Buddha statues, views of the surrounding mountains, and a small bamboo grove (much less crowded than the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest).

In my 1 day Arashiyama itinerary I share how we spent a day visiting these temples and more in Arashiayma, while avoiding the overcrowded and overrated areas.

2. Hozugawa River Boat Ride

Riding a traditional boat down the Hozugawa River was probably my favorite thing we did in Kyoto (and that’s saying something!) You journey along gentle rapids through the mountains before arriving in tranquil Arashiyama, which is home to those lovely temples I just mentioned!

Similar to a gondola ride in Venice, the old wooden boat navigates along the river by three hilarious boatman equipped with bamboo poles. Except here, you spend two hours journeying through the rolling Arashiyama mountains—adorned with cherry blossoms during sakura season, painted in shades of vibrant orange and red in late autumn, and verdant green other times of the year.

The boat ride itself needs to be reserved in advance on Klook. We chose the 11am slot to leave plenty of room for our hotel breakfast, but if I went again, I’d try to get here earlier.

3. Giōji Temple (Moss Temple)

Another Kyoto hidden gem in Arashiyama, Giōji Temple is a small thatched-roof Buddhist temple surrounded by bamboo groves, maple trees, and most remarkably, vibrant green moss!

The Heian-era temple grounds are quite small, but so worth exploring—it’s quite serene, and the moss garden is unlike anything I’ve ever seen!

It’s not too far from Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street and the other temples I mentioned, and you can see how I visited them all in my 1 day Arashiyama itinerary.

4. Local Trails of Fushimi Inari

Hiking beneath the 10,000 red torii gates that climb up Mt. Inari at Fushimi Inari Taisha should be in on your Kyoto bucket list—but given how crowded the main trails get, I highly recommend hiking the lesser visited local trails of Mt. Inari!

We did this by joining this exceptional local-led hiking tour, which hits all the main spots and more, including a hidden bamboo forest, smaller shrines hidden on the mountainside, the summit, and of course, Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine.

I write about our experience and share how to find the local trails on your own in my Fushimi Inari hiking guide.

5. Tofuku-ji Temple

Our hidden Fushimi Inari hiking tour took us through nearby Tofuku-ji Temple on our way to the mountain, and I was shocked that I hadn’t heard about this stunning temple before!

Surrounded by maple trees, Tofuku-ji Temple is a dream in autumn, but I’m sure it would be lovely in sakura season, too. It’s one of the five main Zen temples of Kyoto, and there are 25 sub-temples within the grounds, but only a few are open to visitors.

6. Gion After Dark

Kyoto’s famous geisha district, Gion, is wildly crowded in the daytime, but the trick to explore after dark! Not only is it less crowded, but also arguably more charming as the lanterns light up and locals go about their evening routines!

This night tour of Gion is a lovely way to support a small local business and get some insider insights into the history, far beyond what you could explore on your own.

7. Local Sake & Beer Stand 336

During the daytime, you can escape the crowded Gion streets in Local Sake & Beer Stand 336, which we absolutely LOVED!

I didn’t think of myself as a sake person, but the Kyoto herbal sake brews served here made me change my mind! My husband, Josh, loved trying the craft beers from around Kyoto, too.

The sake stand was beautiful and uncrowded despite its close proximity to Gion’s most popular streets.

8. Hidden Gems Bike Tour

Another way to get off the beaten path in Kyoto with a local, this hidden gems e-bike tour takes you through the quiet local streets and lesser known temples of northwest Kyoto.

Bike tours are always my favorite way to see a new city as its a totally different experience than traveling by train or car—and obviously you can travel further than you would on foot. And this one is an e-bike tour which makes it even easier! 😜 With 1,800 5-star reviews, you really can’t go wrong.

The ride is 4.3-miles (7-kilometers) and with the e-bike, its a breeze. In addition to visiting some lesser known spots, you’ll also see UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinkaku-ji, popularly known as Kyoto’s ‘Golden Temple’.

9. Ogura Pond

Back in Arashiyama, another one of my favorite Kyoto hidden gems is Ogura Pond, a lush lotus pond that you’ll naturally pass if you follow my 1 day Arashiayama itinerary.

Just on the edge of the pond you’ll see a small shrine, too! If you’ve never seen a lotus pond, you’re in for a treat. The lotus plants bloom in the summertime, so I wouldn’t miss this if you’re visiting then!