Here are 14 popular places to visit in Kyoto, along with a brief description of each location:
1. Fushimi Inari Taisha - a Shinto shrine known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that lead up to the summit of Mount Inari
2. Kinkaku-ji - a Zen Buddhist temple famous for its golden temple pavilion set in a tranquil garden
3. Kyoto Imperial Palace - a palace that dates back to the 7th century and was once the residence of the emperor of Japan
4. Kiyomizu-dera - a Buddhist temple that is renowned for its spectacular views from its terrace and its beautiful cherry blossoms
5. Gion - an historic geisha district known for its traditional atmosphere, wooden machiya houses, and teahouses.
6. Nijo Castle - a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a grand castle that was once the residence of the shogun
7. Ryoan-ji - a Zen temple that is famous for its rock garden.
8. Arashiyama - an area west of Kyoto with scenic places such as bamboo groves, a monkey park and temples.
9. Sanjusangen-do - a Buddhist temple that is famous for its 1001 golden statues of the Buddhist goddess of mercy.
10. Kyoto Botanical Garden - a large park featuring seasonal flowers such as cherry blossom, plum, and maple trees and roses.
11. Kyoto National Museum - an art and historical museum that exhibits various arts and crafts from the Heian Period.
12. Kyoto Tower - an observation deck tower that offers views of the city
13. Kyoto Zoo - one of the oldest zoos in Japan, famous for the giant pandas, elephants and the Tancho cranes which are highly respected cranes which appear in the national anthem.
14. The Tō-ji Flea Market - a famous Sunday
Here are some top vacation activities to do in Kyoto:
1. Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine - a popular shrine known for its thousands of torii gates
2. Explore the Kinkaku-ji Temple - a temple covered in gold leaf with a beautiful pond garden
3. Walk through the Philosopher’s Walk - a scenic path lined with cherry blossom trees
4. Visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace - a historic palace where the emperor used to reside
5. Explore the Gion District - a traditional geisha neighborhood with narrow streets and wooden buildings
6. Visit the Nijo Castle - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kyoto's most famous castles
7. Explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove - a peaceful grove of tall bamboo stalks
8. Visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple - a temple with a large veranda overlooking the city
9. Visit the Kyoto National Museum - a large museum with a wide collection of Japanese art and artifacts
10. Explore the Sanjusangendo Temple - a temple with 1001 statues of the deity Kannon
11. Visit the Tofuku-ji Temple - a temple known for its famous zen garden
12. Explore the Ginkaku-ji Temple - a temple known for its beautiful moss garden
13. Visit the Chion-in Temple - a temple with anadncient gateway and pagoda
14. Walk through the Onsen area - a hot spring bath with natural hot spring water in Kyoto. I hope that this information helps you plan your vacation in Kyoto. Enjoy!