When it came to number five, our respondents left us with a four-way tie! It’s difficult to choose when Kyoto is home to so many beautiful locations. Both Mt. Daimonji and Mt. Hiei (pictured above) provide hikes easy enough for beginners, and some wonderful views of Kyoto. Umekoji Park is a park close to Kyoto Station and the Kyoto Aquarium where students also said they like to enjoy cherry blossoms and the markets for hand-made goods that are sometimes held there. If you want an even larger space, though, head further north to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens (pictured below) and you’ll find sprawling grounds with everything from manicured flower gardens to wilder-looking groves.

Of course, there are even more nature spots all across the city for you to discover! Maybe you’ll hop on your bike or a bus to head far north to the pastoral Ohara or Keihoku areas. Or maybe you’ll find a beautiful little patch of green right near your home. Kyoto students have different ideas about their favorite location, but across the board, they agreed that Kyoto’s natural beauty made it a wonderful place to study. So, when you study abroad in Kyoto, why don’t you grab your friends and meet us at the Kamo River Delta?