Kyoto may not be the capital of Japan anymore but that doesn’t mean it’s less of a first-class city. We discovered this while spending 2 days in Kyoto after visiting Tokyo, the current Japanese capital.

With a population of 1.5 million people, making it one of the 10 biggest cities in Japan, Kyoto certainly has a modern face to it. However, it’s the historic attractions that make this city on Honshu island well worth visiting. They include beautiful imperial palaces, Buddhist temples and gardens, traditional wooden houses, and Shinto shrines.

Interesting fact: The atomic bomb that wiped out Nagasaki was originally meant for Kyoto. Japan’s ancient capital only escaped destruction during World War II due to its historic value. The city has Henry Stimson, Secretary of War in 1945, to thank for this narrow escape. He visited Kyoto several times before the war and therefore had a great appreciation for its cultural and historic assets, according to the BBC.

More than 60 years later, what are the best places to visit in Kyoto? Let me guide you through the top Kyoto attractions to see in 2 days.

Kinkaku-ji (the golden pavilion) is the best-known temple in Japan and the symbol of Kyoto. It makes a striking impression with its gold-leaf coated main pavilion of which the reflection splendidly shimmers in the pond before it.

Built for the first time in 1397, Kinkaku-ji has a rich and interesting history. As a result, it has a well-deserved spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s not surprising that it’s one of the three top Kyoto attractions.

The temple experienced its glory days under Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the second owner. He greatly improved it to serve as a retirement home while his son later turned it into a Zen temple.

Unfortunately, Kinkaku-ji was destroyed several times over the following centuries. First during the Ōnin War and the last time in 1950 when it was torched by a disgruntled monk. It was rebuilt to its current state in 1955, with the newest layer of gold leaf added in 1987.

Kinkaku-ji is in the northwest of Kyoto at the foot of Kinugasa Hill. It’s easy to reach by public bus. Just make sure you get there well before 5 pm when the gates to the pavilion close. With only 2 days in Kyoto, you can’t afford for this to happen. Nearby attractions include Waratenjin Shrine and Hirano Shrine.

Tip: Before you go, read Yukio Mishima’s famous novel – The Temple of the Golden Pavilion – for a fictional version of the torching of Kinkaku-ji by the unhappy monk.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps the most recognizable of the Kyoto attractions with its thousands of bright orange torii gates. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Kyoto in 2 days, especially if you want great pictures to remember your trip by.

What makes Fushimi Inari Taisha, as it is also known, so special is that it’s the main or head shrine to which all others in Japan are connected. It means that, apart from the tourists, many Japanese come here to worship. In fact, they’ve been doing so since 711AD when Fushimi Inari Taisha, as it is commonly known, was first built. Business prosperity and bountiful harvests are some of the common things people pray for.

The torii arches responsible for the characteristic vermilion tunnels are sponsored by businessmen who strive for success and richness. The donation is valid for ten years only, after which the black kanji lettering which indicates the sponsor’s name on the torii may be changed.

Fushimi Inari is in the southwest of Tokyo.  Visit early or late to avoid the crowds and for the best photographs. My advice is to walk at least part of the hiking trail to experience the best of the torii gates. I loved discovering the different fox statues along the path. The foxes are said to be the messengers or kindreds of Inari Okami, the enshrined deity of Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Tip: Allow some time to browse through the stalls in the street leading to Fushimi Inari’s main entrance. Taste some inari-zushi, a mixture of fried tofu and sweetened sushi, or even a grilled sparrow if you can stomach the thought. Souvenirs to look out for include brightly colored clay dolls called ningyo as well as good luck charms.

While the Kyoto Imperial Palace is of great historic significance, it’s the beautiful park that surrounds it that makes it one of the top Kyoto attractions. Although no longer the main residence of Japan’s imperial family, the Kyoto Imperial Palace is still an active palace of the Emperor of Japan. As such, it’s not accessible to the general public. However, the surrounding gardens which form part of the Kyoto Imperial Park and the exterior of the palace buildings are well worth seeing.

The big park area is also home to the Sento Imperial Palace and the Kaninnomiya Mansion. If you want to find out what life used to be like for court nobles, this building in the southwest of the park is open to the public. Look out for a branch shine of the Itsukushima Shrine on an island in a nearby pond.   Admission is free, so you have no excuse not to include the Imperial Palace and its gardens in your itinerary for exploring Kyoto in 2 days.

Tip: Visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace from late March to mid-April for the unique experience to walk along the lane of weeping cherry trees in full bloom next to Konoe Pond.

Combined, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park are two of the best places to visit in Kyoto. After the serenity of the bamboo forest, the monkeys’ escapades will put a smile on your face.

Just like the Fushimi Inari vermilion torii gates, the green bamboo shoots of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is the perfect backdrop for your travel photos. But the same rule applies – either get there very early or very late for the best pictures. With 2 main Kyoto attractions so close together, the Arashiyama area can quickly get busy. After taking your pictures in the Bamboo forest, it’s time to climb the hill to visit the monkeys. Called Japanese macaques, the monkeys live in an open-air observatory where visitors move around freely between them.

It’s such fun watching the macaques get up to their antics. They chase each other, play in the water, sleep in the trees, and fetch fruit from the hands of cautious tourists. While the monkeys seem friendly and harmless, visitors are reminded that they remain wild and that certain rules should be followed to avoid nasty incidents. One of these is to avoid eye contact. I know, that’s a bit difficult when a monkey is looking straight at you and you want to take its picture! Try nevertheless .

The lovely views of Kyoto from what is commonly known as monkey hill make the effort to see the Japanese macaques more than worthwhile. A quick and easy way to get to Arashiyama is to take the train from Kyoto Central Station Tip: You may stumble upon the Tenryuji Temple and Gardens while walking along the Bamboo forest path. If you do, I highly recommend taking some time to admire this pretty spot in Arashiyama.

I know 2 days in Kyoto fly by once you start discovering all the attractions. However, a list of the best places to visit in Kyoto won’t be complete without mentioning Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion).

Interesting fact: Although it’s called the Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji was never plated silver according to the initial plan. The plans were halted by the Onin War and the subsequent death of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa who was going to use it as a retirement villa. But don’t worry, the unpainted brown color of the temple is striking in its simplicity.