Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto

It's hard to appreciate the size and scale of the main buildings and palace gates. Each structure is huge, and the detail that goes into crafting the buildings is impressive. We cycled to the palace from a bike rental place near Kyoto Station. The ride was easy, and navigating to the palace and surrounding gardens was a breeze. Definitely a great way to get a feel for the city, and a nice break from taxis and trains. Admission is free, just need a mask and temperature check for entry. There is car and bike parking, and a waiting room with free lockers for your bags etc if needed. There is a free app to download for English tour information which is helpful. And each main building has a sign with additional information about the structure. It took around and hour to walk around everything, but mileage may vary based on your pace. It was snowing when we where there, so we walked rather briskly. Definitely worth a visit when you're in Kyoto.

Really nice , well kept palace, a treasure in Kyoto. This is a a must do, the grounds are absolutely huge and you can freely walk in around the palace grounds, you can even picnic, there are a couple of kids playgrounds and lots of gardens and blossoms to sit under. Couple of things to note, - The roadways inside the grounds are all gravel so it can be tricky pushing prams or riding bikes. - Check the weather, if it’s clear sky definitely bring a hat, same if over-cast an umbrella as it’s a good 15 min walk in. - Consider exiting the grounds at the rear or on the sides, you will come out in more of suburbia and it’s actually nice walking back to central Kyoto through the local neighbourhoods, you’ll pass schools and typical housing which is all very pleasant.