Kyoto Station building.

Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station & South Kyoto


The Kyoto Station building is a striking steel-and-glass structure – a kind of futuristic cathedral for the transport age – with a tremendous space that arches above you as you enter the main concourse. Be sure to take the escalator from the 7th floor on the east side of the building up to the 11th-floor glass corridor, Skyway (open 10am to 10pm), that runs high above the main concourse of the station, and catch some views from the 15th-floor Sky Garden terrace.

The station building contains several food courts, a foreign currency exchange shop, as well as the JR Isetan Department Store and the Kyoto Tourist Information Center.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kyoto Station & South Kyoto attractions

1. Kyoto Tower Observation Deck

0.17 MILES

Located opposite Kyoto Station, this retro tower (1964) looks like a rocket perched atop the Kyoto Tower Hotel. The observation deck provides excellent…

2. Higashi Hongan-ji

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Higashi Hongan-ji is the last word in all things grand and gaudy. Considering its proximity to the station, the free admission, the awesome structures and…

3. Shōsei-en

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About five minutes’ walk east of Higashi Hongan-ji, this garden is a peaceful green island in a vast expanse of concrete. While it’s not on par with many…

4. Nishi Hongan-ji

0.57 MILES

A vast temple complex, Nishi Hongan-ji comprises several buildings that feature some of the finest examples of architecture and artistic achievement from…

5. Tō-ji

0.67 MILES

One of the sights south of Kyoto Station, Tō-ji is an appealing complex of halls and a fantastic pagoda that makes a fine backdrop for the monthly flea…

6. Sanjūsangen-dō Temple

0.78 MILES

This superb temple’s name refers to the 33 sanjūsan (bays) between the pillars of this long, narrow edifice. The building houses 1001 wooden statues of…

7. Kyoto National Museum

0.84 MILES

The Kyoto National Museum is the city's premier art museum and plays host to the highest-level exhibitions in the city. It was founded in 1895 as an…

8. Kyoto Railway Museum

0.91 MILES

This superb museum is spread over three floors showcasing 53 trains, from vintage steam locomotives in the outside Roundhouse Shed to commuter trains and…