The Kyoto Botanical garden or the Kyoto Prefecture Botanical Garden is the first botanical garden established in Japan. It is located on the banks of the Kamogawa River and near the Kitayama Dori Street.
The garden was founded in 1917 and opened for public viewing in 1924. Allied forces took over the site after World War II and it became a botanical garden again only in 1961. It covers an area of over 240,000 square meters, and incorporates a conservatory - a large covered structure with several rooms - modeled after the Kinkaku-ji temple and the northern mountains of the city of Kyoto.
There are over 12,000 species of plants growing in the garden. It is divided into many themed spaces including a bamboo grove, a camellia garden, a bonsai section, cherry tree grove, a sunken garden, a European garden, a peony garden, a lotus pond and a Nakaragi-no-mori pond with trees from the Yamashiro basin. The conservatory protects over 4,500 species of plants. Each room has a distinct theme like the Ananas room, Orchids room, jungle zone, aquatic and carnivorous plants, tropical alpine plants room, potted plants section and desert and Savannah plants room. There is also a playground for children and a main hall with a gardening room, an exhibition room and a restaurant.

The Kyoto Concert Hall is the home of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. The modern building has a unique design to give an excellent acoustic experience to the audience. It holds contemporary and classical music and dance performances all through the year.
The Kyoto Concert Hall was designed by architect Arata Isozaki, who also designed the Barcelona Olympic Pavilion. It opened its doors to the public in 1995 to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the ancient city of Haienkyo, the old name for Kyoto. The concert hall is also a teaching facility and many performances are accompanied by teaching sessions where the different components of an orchestra are explained to the audience.
The Kyoto Concert hall is surrounded by granite bridges and stone sculptures making a modern version of a Japanese garden. The building consists of the foyer, the main block, the Ensemble Hall Murata and the Symphony Hall. The foyer has interiors made of Florentine limestone. The center of the foyer has twelve pillars representing the 12 signs of the Zodiac. The Main Hall has a shoebox auditorium design. The notable feature is the 90 stop pipe organ made by the German firm Johannes Klais Orgelbau GmbH & Co.KG. The Ensemble Hall Murata is designed for performances on a smaller scale like small orchestras, piano solos and recitals of chamber music. The Symphony Hall is equipped with state of the art technology to enhance the performance and appreciation of music. People with a taste for music will definitely find attending a performance at the Kyoto Concert Hall a worthwhile acoustic experience.

The Shimogamo Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. It is one of the 17 monuments in old Kyoto that have been declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.
The Shimogamo Shrine dates back to the 6th Century and was originally constructed to protect the city of Kyoto. It is located within a forest called Tadasu no Mori or Forest of Truth. It is dedicated to the deities, Kamotaketsunumi-no-mikoto and his daughter Tamayorihime-no-mikoto and the God of fire and Thunder, Honoikazuchi-no-mikoto. The shrine received imperial patronage during the Haien Era and from 1871 to 1946, it was a Kanpei-taisha or Government supported shrine of the first rank.
The Shimogamo Shrine is famous for the annual Hollyhock Festival or Aoi Matsuri that takes place on May 15th. It is also the site of an annual New Year Ritual called the Kemari Hajime. Kemari is a traditional Japanese sport that dates back to the Haien Era. Its performance almost disappeared after the Meiji Restoration but was revived by the efforts of the Kemari Preservation Society from 1903. The Tadasu no Mori surrounding the shrine is a tranquil green space in the midst of the bustling city. It has many ancient and beautiful trees and is crisscrossed by clear streams. The forest has been regarded as an important Haien era botanical site.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the former residence of the Emperors of Japan until the Capital of the country was shifted to Tokyo. It was also the venue where the enthronement of the Emperors of Japan took place until recently.
The present Kyoto Imperial Palace was built in 1855. It was constructed after a devastating fire destroyed a previous structure completely. Its design resembles the palaces of the Heian period in Kyoto. The buildings in the palace complex include the Dairi or Imperial Residence, the Sento or palace of the retired Emperor, a library, several ceremonial halls, the Kaninnomiya Mansion which was the residence of the Fujiwara nobility and houses for the Empress and other officials with high ranks.
The Kyoto Imperial palace is surrounded by a long earthen wall called the Tsuji with 6 ancient gates. It is also surrounded by a clean green space called the Kyoto Imperial Park or the Kyōto Gyoen. The park has gravel paths, lawns and many shady trees. The Konoe Pond in the Northwestern corner of the park has a group of cherry trees that bloom between March and April. The palace is managed by the Imperial Household Agency. Visitors can reserve a place on conducted tours around the palace and grounds. The one hour guided tours are available in English and Japanese.

The Kyoto Municipal Museum of art was established to commemorate the coronation of the Showa Emperor in 1928. It is the second largest public art museum in Japan.
The Kyoto Municipal Museum was opened to the public in 1933. It was first called the Showa Imperial Coronation Art Museum of Japan or the Kyoto Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art. It was housed in a European style brick building with Palace like proportions. After the Second World War, the occupation forces took over the building temporarily. A new annex was added in the year 2000 to provide additional exhibition space. From the date of its inauguration the museum has steadily increased its collection through donations and purchases.
The Kyoto Municipal Museum has a vast collection of paintings, sculpture, graphic art, photographs and prints. All works on display relate to Japan and the city of Kyoto. Most of the works were created after the Meiji era. The museum hosts art lectures, seminars, workshops and art related programs. Temporary exhibitions are also held and some display the works of international artists. The Museum also holds special exhibitions like the Kyoten Exhibition and the Nitten Exhibition annually. It stays open from Tuesdays to Sundays and is closed on Mondays and public holidays.

The National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto popularly known by the acronym, MOMAK is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of 20th century Japanese art. The unique architecture of the building housing the museum has made it a popular tourist attraction in Kyoto.
The National Museum of Modern art in Kyoto was first established as an annex of the Modern Art Museum in Tokyo. The present site was once the Kyoto Municipal Exhibition Hall for Industrial Affairs. MOMAK occupied the building from 1963. The entire building was given to the museum in 1967. In 1984, the old building was torn down and the present structure designed by Fumihko Maki was constructed. The Museum was opened for public viewing once again in 1986.
The National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto has four floors and a basement. Contemporary works of Japanese and international artists are on display. One can view both Japanese style Nihonga paintings and western style Yoga paintings at the museum. There are also collections of sculpture and objects made of ceramics, bamboo, metalwork, lacquer and jewelry. Notable works are paintings by the French master, Matisse, the Japanese artist, Ryuzaburo Umehara and ceramic sculpture by Kawai Kanjiro. The Museum also holds temporary themed exhibitions of contemporary art. Most of the signs in the museum are in Japanese but there are pamphlets in English that visitors can follow to take a self guided tour.

One of the most famous structures designed by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando is the TIME'S Building. Placed along a canal, this building is created to perfectly fit within the natural scenery of the preserved Pontocho area. There is a cafe established at the edge of the building, right above the canal, where visitors can enjoy a drink and get to experience the structure's close relationship with water.