This planned itinerary will open you up to the wonders of Japan, and the joy of seeing Kyoto with children. Find the perfect mix of cultural and educational activities with that unique Japanese twist right here.

This historic temple sits halfway up Otowa Mountain in eastern Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera includes several shrines, including the popular Jishu Shrine, dedicated to Okuninushi, a god of love. This shrine contains “love stones” placed apart, which visitors can try to walk between with their eyes closed in the hopes of successfully reaching the end and finding true love. The most famous part of the temple is the main hall which has a large veranda that juts over the hillside, offering breathtaking views of the city. The Otowa waterfall, located underneath the main hall, is believed to have wish-granting powers to those who drink its water. This complex is especially popular during festivals, particularly during New Year’s and Obon, where several booths fill the grounds selling holiday food and souvenirs.

Parents And Kids Will Enjoy Historic Locomotives Of Japan

Visitors of all ages will enjoy learning about steam locomotives at this interesting railway museum. The museum opened in 1972 to preserve the history of the steam locomotive, a major part of transportation history. The facility houses 19 steam locomotives, representing those produced in Japan during the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras. The museum’s entrance way is the former Nijo Station House, the oldest wooden railway station in Japan. For an extra fee of 200 yen, visitors can experience a real steam locomotive on a 10-minute train ride at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm or 3:30 pm.

Nijo Castle was built in 1626 as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, the castle was used as an imperial palace before opening to the public. This historic site consists of the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace and various buildings and gardens. The Ninomaru Palace is decorated with luxurious gold leaves and elaborate wood carvings, to impress visitors with the power and wealth of the shoguns. The Honmaru Palace consists of living quarters, entertainment rooms, entrance halls and a kitchen area. Visitors will see several beautiful gardens throughout the castle grounds, including nearly 400 cherry trees and several Japanese plum trees.