Best Temples around Kansai Spot List

Known by locals as “Kurodani-san”

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

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.

Occasionally open seasonally for cherry blossom, azalea, and fall leaves viewing

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.

Where the emperors and nobles enjoyed themselves

This large temple complex boasts a magnificent ancient hall

Check out the ”Sento Kuyo” ceremony on summer nights

Two different windows overlooking a garden

A temple built upon the request of Emperor Tenmu during the Hakuho Period. Reconstructed in recent years, the temple structures showcase beautiful, vibrant colors.

Where the successful Hideyoshi Toyotomi worshipped the three-faced Daikokuten

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.

A large temple in Nara featuring many structures that illustrate the culture from the Tempyo Period. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This ancient temple was erected by Empress Komyo

A Tendai sect temple with the magnificent natural monument, Yoryu no Matsu

Himeji’s famous mountain-top temple

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

A school that embodies the dreams of Buddhist teacher Kobo Daishi

One of the last temples to prohibit entry to women

A massive triple gate welcomes you to the head temple for the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism