Top Five Natural Attractions in Kyoto – Nature in Its Most Striking Form 

Cute little baby monkeys – they warm your heart, don’t they? Get ready to go ‘aww’ no end at Arashiyama Monkey Park. About a hundred baby monkeys and their protective parents take shelter at the park. They roam around freely without a care in the world, while the little babies watch you with great curiosity. If you’re not used to monkeys, having them come close to you can throw you off guard, but don’t worry; they’re harmless. Now, that doesn’t mean you should pet them, although you could feed them if you wanted to. There's a little shop inside the park that sells bananas to visitors to feed the monkeys. This sanctuary sits atop a hill, and it takes a laborious 30-minute hike to get up there, but the views are worth it!

Now, take that same curious lark to the Bamboo Grove, which is part of the Monkey Park. The Bamboo Grove offers an enchanting sight; nothing quite comes close to it. The winding path is flanked by towering bamboo trees that grow really thick and lush in some spots, making it impossible to see through to the other side. It’s like a fairytale world, where you half expect to encounter a Japanese princess or maybe a prince who needs rescuing at the end of the walk. Now, here’s something to think about: if you want to spend more time exploring and less time commuting, stay at a place like Park Hotel Kyoto. As you know, accommodation plays a major role in any holiday, and when you’re in Kyoto, a place brimming with attractions, you’d want all the time you can get. So look for Kyoto hotels located close to transportation hubs and big-money tourist attractions.

More nature and surprising twists? Make your way over to Kyoto Botanical Gardens, where you’ll be surrounded by thousands of beautiful, fragrant blooms. The park has been here since the early 1920s, and with the boom in tourism, the park has only gotten more popular. There are about 12,000 species of flowers, plants, and trees here, making it one of the best natural attractions in the city. The park also boasts several sections, so the stage is perfectly set for you to play the botanist. And if you’ve got a bit more time left, put it to good use by visiting the conservatory – you might learn something.

Mount Atago…it rolls off the tongue nicely, doesn’t it? Well, it’s a stunning visual feast too! It’s one of the most prominent viewpoints in Kyoto – the likes of which you won’t see elsewhere. To reach the summit, which is where the magic happens, take to the hiking trails. There are several trails, including the Isshu trail, which is often an inviting quest for a seasoned hiker interested in culture, history, and nature.

Another natural attraction you simply shouldn’t miss out on is Maruyama Park. It’s one of the most stunning green spots in the city, and it would be a real shame to miss it. The park is often associated with the cherry blossom season, which is no surprise, as there are thousands of cherry trees that bloom during spring. Called Hanami, meaning cherry blossom viewing, the cherry blossom season comes around for a short while from late March to April. Yes, it doesn’t last long, which is a shame, really, but its ephemeral nature is what makes you want to travel all the way from the other side of the world so that you can catch a glimpse of it.