This is the Arashiyama & Sagano chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guide-book.

It’s best not to rush here, as this is the perfect place to take it slow wandering around the temples, strolling along the river or hiring a bicycle and exploring it on a slow ride.

• meander the trails through the villa’s stunning garden and admire the hilltop views at Okochi Sanso
• maps
• enter a magical green world of swaying bamboo stalks at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• transport
• meditate at Tenryu-ji’s sublime Zen garden to a backdrop of the Arashiyama mountains
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Shopping, Activities.

This is the Day Trips from Kyoto chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guide-book.

Want to escape the city? This chapter includes the very best excursions from Kyoto and they can each be completed in a day. Must-sees include Kurama & Kibune and Ohara.

• escape to the hills for hiking and hot-spring soaking in charming Kurama & Kibune, just 30 minutes from Kyoto. Kibune is an essential visit in summer for dining on platforms over the river
• take a one-hour bus ride into the mountains for a glimpse of farming life along with temple strolling in the quiet town of Ohara. Very popular for maple-leaf viewing in autumn
• thirty minutes away from Kyoto by express train, Nara boasts a compact collection of truly first-rate sights. If you’re in Kyoto for more than five days, Nara is a must!

Coverage includes: Kurama & Kibune, Ohara, Nara, Osaka, Miya-ma-cho.

This is the Downtown Kyoto chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guidebook.

Downtown Kyoto is bounded by the Kamo-gawa (the river) to the east, Karasuma-dori to the west, Oike-dori to the north and Shijo-dori to the south. In this relatively small square area, you will find the thickest selection of restaurants, shops, hotels and businesses in all of Kyoto.

• tread lightly over squeaking ‘nightingale’ floors while exploring Nijo-jo
• maps
• marvel at all the weird and wonderful ingredients that go into Kyoto cuisine at Nishiki Market
• transport
• stroll atmospheric Ponto-cho in the evening lantern light
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

This is the Gion & Southern Higashiyama chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guidebook.

This is where you should begin your exploration of Kyoto. This area is home to some of Kyoto’s best temples and several of the city’s loveliest lanes. Downhill from the main sightseeing route, you’ll find Gion, Kyoto’s high-end entertainment and geisha district.

• climb to the top of the Southern Higashiyama district to visit one of Kyoto’s most colourful temples, Kiyomizu-dera
• maps
• let your soul be soothed by the chanting monks at Chion-in
• transport
• sip a cup of green tea while admiring the sublime garden at Shoren-in
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Activities.

This is the Imperial Palace & Around chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guide-book.

The Imperial Palace area stretches from near the southern boundary of the Imperial Palace Park up north to the Takara-ga-ike-koen and one of Japan’s oldest shrines, Kamigamo-jinja. In between, the vast Imperial Palace Park is home to the Imperial Palace itself.

• explore the many temples of Daitoku-ji and admire the Zen garden at Koto-in
• maps
• stroll around the superb gardens at Sento Imperial Palace designed by renowned landscape artist Kobori Enshu
• transport
• take a stroll through the long tree-lined approach to lovely Shimogamo-jinja
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Activities.

This is the Kyoto Station & South Kyoto chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guidebook.

For most travellers, the Kyoto Station area is the entry point to the city, so your first glimpse of the city may be an anticlimax. But, rest assured, there is good stuff (and the more traditional landscape you probably came here for) in every direction.

• wander through the hypnotic arcades of torii (entrance gates) at Fushimi Inari-Taisha
• maps
• gaze up at Kyoto Station’s striking architecture and taking in views from the Sky Gar-den
• transport
• whisk up to the top of Kyoto Tower for great views over the city
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Shopping.

This is the Northern Higashiyama chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guide-book.

The Northern Higashiyama area is one of Kyoto’s most important sightseeing districts. It con-tains a long strip of temples, all connected by the lovely Path of Philosophy; it’s also home to museums, parks and a few interesting Shinto shrines.

• immerse yourself in the wonderful gardens, intimate subtemples and a hidden grotto wait-ing in the woods at Nanzen-ji
• maps
• take the bamboo-lined path to see Kyoto’s famed ‘Silver Pavilion’, Ginkaku-ji
• transport
• get lost in thought on the pretty flower-strewn Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi)
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

This is the Northwest Kyoto chapter from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guidebook.

Northwest Kyoto contains two of the city’s most important temples: Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, and Ry?an-ji, with its mystical rock garden. Other sights include the sho-gun’s castle of Nij?-j? and the enclosed world of My?shin-ji.

• be dazzled by the single most impressive sight in all of Kyoto: the gold-plated main hall of the famed ‘Golden Pavilion’, Kinkaku-ji
• maps
• meditate on the 15 magical rocks in the Zen garden of Ry?an-ji
• transport
• take a stroll through the enclosed world of Zen temples at My?shin-ji
• restaurants & bars

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Entertainment, Shopping, Activities.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Kyoto, Kyoto’s Top 10, What’s New, Need to Know, First Time Kyoto, Top Itineraries, If You Like..., Month By Month, Kyoto by the Seasons, With Kids, Like a Local, For Free, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, and Temples & Shrines chapters from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guidebook.

Your journey to Kyoto starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on Kyoto with kids.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about exploring Kyoto for free
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Kyoto, Kyoto’s Top 10, What’s New, Need to Know, First Time Kyoto, Top Itineraries, If You Like: Temples & Shrines, Museums, Geisha & Maiko Performances, Traditional Culture, Shopping & Markets, Green Spaces, Architecture, Sce-nic Strolls, Views, Month By Month, Kyoto by the Seasons, With Kids, Like a Local, For Free, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, and Temples & Shrines.

This chapter contains the Kyoto Today, History, Religion, Geisha, Arts & Crafts, Architecture & Gardens, The Tea Ceremony, Transport, Directory A-Z, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s Kyoto guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, ikebana, kabuki and Zen gardens to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and lesbian travellers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversations with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on Kyoto’s traditional crafts and where to find them
• info on geisha and their history
• full coverage of Japanese temple and shrine architecture
• details on tea ceremony history and etiquette

Coverage includes: Kyoto Today, History, Religion, Geisha, Arts & Crafts, Architecture & Gardens, The Tea Ceremony, Transport, Directory A-Z, and Language.