Best Temples around Kyoto Spot List

A temple founded in Higashiyama by Hideyoshi Toyotomi's wife, Nene, to mourn his passing and pray for his soul. The nighttime illuminations in spring, summer and fall are beautiful to see.

A Zen temple of the Rinzai Sect of Buddhism, world famous for its traditional rock garden.

A temple of the Nichiren sect on Mt. Ogura in Sagano. It is well-known for ”Hyakunin Isshu” (a collection of 100 poems by 100 different poets). In autumn, the nearby mountains awash with brilliant red leaves.

The roads are covered with colorful leaves in autumn

Where the successful Hideyoshi Toyotomi worshipped the three-faced Daikokuten

Autumn colors light up the moss garden in this temple's garden of enlightenment

A famous location for autumn leaves, connected to Kukai (Kobo-daishi)

One of Kyoto's most renowned temples, located on the side of Mt. Otowa in the Higishiyama Range. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The head temple of the Rinzai sect, known as the highest-ranked Zen temple in Japan.

The Osawa-no-ike Pond is famous for its cherry blossoms and moon-viewing pavilion

An ancient temple with a beautiful garden, connected to Murasaki Shibibu

A majestic temple and garden with beautiful Arashiyama in the background

Quietly praying to the rakan statues on the hillsides

Twin Dragons created during the Heisei period watch over Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple

Indulge in tea while gazing at the garden

The abbot’s chambers are surrounded by four gardens

Two different windows overlooking a garden

A thatched hut that stands in lush greenery

One of the Monzeki temples of the Tendai sect that enshrines the National Treasure Amida Sanzon (Amida Triad) statue in eternal tranquility.

Flowers blossom throughout the seasons at this temple, also known as “The Flower Temple”