Best Religious Sites in Kyoto

A very popular temple with beautiful grounds, offering a curated experience where visitors can walk through the gardens and explore.

Kiyomizu-dera is a temple complex with iconic structures and a wooden stage that juts out over the hillside, especially beautiful in autumn.

Enkouji Temple is a stunning temple with an unforgettable viewing platform of the traditional Japanese garden; reservations are required during Autumn.

Bishamondo is a temple with beautiful autumn leaves; entry costs ¥500, but the grounds can be explored for free.

Shorenin Temple is a temple known for its beautiful gardens.

Fushimi Inari-taisha is a temple complex dedicated to the fox spirit Inari, featuring thousands of torii gates spanning Mount Inari.

Kiyomizadera is a temple dominated by stone and revered in Japan.

Tofukuji is a temple crafted from ancient timbers, known for its covered bridges.

Kodai Temple features a raked gravel garden representing the infinite ocean.

Nanzenji is a temple featuring a 19th-century aqueduct.

Tenryuji Temple, located in Arashiyama, is ranked first among Kyoto’s great Zen temples and is part of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is one of the most recognizable buildings in Kyoto, with its top two floors covered in gold leaf, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ginkakuji, known as the Silver Pavilion, was once the home of an art obsessed Shogun and became the center of higashiyama culture in Kyoto.

Kiyomizudera features a 13m tall wooden stage and the Otowa Waterfall, whose waters are said to have different benefits.

Kodaiji Temple is a peaceful retreat with beautifully landscaped gardens, tea houses, and historic architecture, especially beautiful at night.

Higashi Hongan-ji Temple is visited during the vlog's Kyoto walking tour.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is famous for its amazing view of the city.

Kinkaku-Ji Temple (Golden Temple) closes at 5 PM, so visiting late is not an option; going super early would probably be the best option to avoid crowds.

Kinkakuji Temple is a temple in Kyoto.

Higashi Honganji Temple is a temple.

Kiyomizu Dera is a temple and one of the most scenic places in Japan.

Daigo-ji Temple is mentioned as a stunning garden with traditional doors.

Byodo-in Temple is a stunning Buddhist temple in Uji, famous for its iconic Phoenix Hall (Hoo-do) which appears on the Japanese 10 yen coin. Its architecture is a masterpiece of Heian period design.

Toji Temple is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to Japan's tallest wooden structure, a five-story pagoda.

Perched on a mountainside, this iconic Buddhist temple offers breathtaking panoramic views of Kyoto from its wooden stage. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its impressive architecture and spiritual ambiance.

Kodaiji is one of the temples and gardens located along the way to Gion.

Nanzenji Temple is one of Kyoto's most significant temples, which features a unique red brick Aqueduct.

Tofukuji Temple is a large Zen Buddhist temple known for its spectacular autumn colors, especially viewed from the Tsutenkyo Bridge that spans its valley.

Nansenji Temple is famous for its aqueduct and rock garden.

A legendary temple in Kyoto perched high above the city, offering a massive wooden stage and sweeping views.

Tenruji is one of the main Zen temples in Kyoto, famous for its Japanese garden.

Senkochi Temple offers a scenic view after a walk through a dense forest.

An iconic shrine in Kyoto with thousands of orange torii gates, offering a unique and peaceful experience as you hike higher.

A Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, standing majestically against a backdrop of lush greenery and a tranquil pond.

Hokanji Temple is known for being a world famous photo spot.

Tenryu Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Arashiyama.

Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf and a famous landmark in Kyoto.

Ginkaku-ji, also known as the Silver Pavilion, is a temple complex with serene Zen gardens.

Nanzen-ji is a grand Zen temple complex featuring an aqueduct bridge.

Daigo-ji is a UNESCO world heritage site, a sprawling temple complex on a mountainside with old wooden buildings.

Kodai-ji is a temple that offers seasonal illuminations.

To-ji is a temple that offers seasonal illuminations.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji features over a thousand unique stone statues.

Kiyomizu Temple is a popular temple in Higashiyama, known for being crowded, but best visited early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid crowds.

Tenui Temple is famous for its beautiful landscape Garden and remains an important spiritual and cultural Landmark.

Genko-an is a temple famous for its ceilings that use repurposed floorboards from a warrior suicide.

Kodai-ji Temple in Higashiyama has a small bamboo forest.

An iconic attraction that can be overwhelmed with visitors, but worth visiting.

Ryoan-ji is home to one of Japan's most famous rock gardens.

One of Kyoto's most famous temples and shrines located in Higashiyama.

A heart of the historic temple complex.

A temple lodging in the heart of the historic Myoshin-ji Temple complex.

A temple that offers a challenging hike and breathtaking views of the area.

Also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, set against a backdrop of greenery and a pond.

An expansive Zen temple complex with a massive Sanmon gate and beautiful gardens.

A temple famous for its wooden stage that juts out over the hillside, often hosting special nighttime illuminations.

Mentioned as a place of interest in Kyoto.

Yasaka Koso Temple is a small and colorful temple filled with colorful curri zeru where worshippers can write their wishes.

Attending a tea ceremony at Jok kuji Temple is an activity that is highly recommended when visiting the city.

Chion-Inn is a historic Buddhist temple in Kyoto renowned for its massive gate and tranquil Gardens.

Mentioned as a place of interest in Kyoto.