I had no idea how many temples and shrines there were in Kyoto until I finally visited for myself! It’s actually pretty incredible! There are over 1,600 in this city, so if you are only visiting for a few days, choosing a few to go to can be a pretty challenging task. Like many of you, I was only in Kyoto for 3 days, meaning I had to make the most of my time. I spoke to many locals and did a lot of research, as well as saw a lot of temples. To save others time, I put together a short list of what I think are the best temples and shrines in Kyoto! Enjoy!
Kiyomizudera Temple
I accidentally stumbled upon this Buddhist temple as I walked through the busy streets in the Higashiyama District. The streets are lined with shops, bakeries, restaurants and tons of people! At the end, it opens up to these beautiful red structures, which are part of the Kiyomizudera Temple. As you walk back past the pagoda, you’ll find a small building where you can buy tickets for the actual complex itself. Kiyomizudera Temple is known for its large, wooden stage set 43 ft (13 m) above the hillside. This is a very popular temple to visit during the spring and fall. It offers beautiful, mountain views overlooking Kyoto and the sea of colorful trees below.
Read more: First Timer’s 10 Day Japan Itinerary
Kinkaku-ji Temple
One of the most iconic temples in Kyoto is the Kinkaku-ji Temple or the Golden Pavilion. This golden temple has an interesting history and has actually burned down a number of times! The structure that is standing now was rebuilt in 1955 and is the last structure in the complex. After walking around the temple and the large pond it overlooks, you’ll go through the garden area and find little statues that people throw coins at for good luck. I tried a number of times and only got it in the bowl once! It’s actually harder than it looks. Near the entrance, you’ll find a few ice cream and sweets shops that sell ice cream with gold flake in it! I am so glad I didn’t miss this temple; however, it does get surprisingly crowded so if you can go at an off time, I recommend that.
Tenryu-ji Temple
Tenryu-ji Temple is a beautiful zen temple located in Arashiyama, known for its beautiful gardens. Although the building itself has been rebuilt a few times due to fires (seems to be a common theme), the garden has stayed intact for centuries. While exploring the garden, I saw my first Weeping Cherry Blossom tree, which I didn’t even know existed! Because Arashiyama is very mountainous, this would make a great stop if you are visiting during cherry blossom season or in the fall. Next to Tenryu-ji Temple is the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. You may have seen this forest in many pictures, as its one of Kyoto’s iconic sights. If you are in the Arashiyama area to see this temple, consider going to the Arashiyama Monkey Park! It’s not too far away and it’s really fun to get to feed the monkeys and see them up close without a barrier.
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine
The Fushimi-Inari Shrine is such an iconic historical site in Kyoto. It is probably one of the most photographed sites and there’s a good reason for it! I was there during cherry blossom season but let me tell you, it was very crowded. Initially I was disappointed because there were so many people and you really couldn’t enjoy the torii gates at all!
In attempt to get away from the crowds, I ended up down a path less traveled that took me through a bamboo forest and ultimately to the other side of the mountain. From there, I was able to hike up a number of uneven steps to the top of Mt. Inari. Once at the top, you could see the shrine, as well as the torii gates with almost no people! I figure most people don’t make the effort to go all the way to the top. If you want to experience this shrine in peace and quiet, go the extra mile and head to the top. The best part of my visit was finding a little cafe that overlooked the city of Kyoto about mid-way up the mountain. I sat for about 20 minutes enjoying a cold drink and the beautiful view. I think my adventure here was my favorite experience in Kyoto and I highly recommend blocking out a few hours to truly wander around and take it all in.
Nanzen-ji
Nanzen-ji Temple is located in the Northern Higashiyama district and is one of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan! This complex is large, containing multiple surrounding sub-temples, all of which are worth the visit. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend here, we would recommend seeing the San-Mon gate, the Hojo, and Nanzen-in. The Hojo is the main building, where you can visit the dry gravel Zen garden and the Nanzen-in is one of the subtemples that overlooks a pond! If you are planning on spending the day in Northern Higashiyama, there are a few other things you could put on your list after visiting Nanzen-ji: Eikando, the Philospher’s Path, and Ginkaku-ji Temple (the Silver Pavilion).
