Best Temples around Kansai Spot List

The head temple of the Jodo sect, founded at the place where Honen Shonin passed away. The magnificent monastery was built under the wing of the Tokugawa family.

A thatched hut that stands in lush greenery

The head temple of the Shingon Sect's Omuro School. Holding a long association with the Imperial Household, the temple is also well known for its late-blooming cherry trees called Omuro-zakura.

A beautiful temple like the Pure Land itself that illustrates the prosperity of the Fujiwara regency during the late Heian Period.

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

A temple famous for its Bone Buddhas

Blessed with knowledge by Monju

Many people visit to receive divine blessing from the “kachi daruma”, said to bring good luck

A little-known temple hidden deep in the mountains

The first of 33 temples on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Seiganto-ji is an ever-popular destination for worshipers

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

Famous for its early blossoming cherry trees, which signify the coming of spring

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

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.

Quietly praying to the rakan statues on the hillsides

An elegant temple with a Japanese rock garden and wonderful autumn foliage

Shitenno-ji Temple is the oldest state-built Buddhist temple in Japan, established in 593 by Prince Shotoku. The architectural structures seen today are faithful reproductions of the temple's original appearance.

The historic, symbolic spot of Namba. Always popular with tourists

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

The head temple of the Rinzai sect's Tofuku-ji School, which has Japan's largest monastery and oldest San-mon gate. It is known as one of Kyoto's best places to view autumn leaves.