Best Temples around Kansai Spot List

The main temple of the Shingon Sect of the Daigo School of Buddhism that stretches across Mt. Daigo. Famous for its cherry blossoms, Hideyoshi Toyotomi used to hold spring parties here to enjoy the trees when they are in bloom.

Quietly praying to the rakan statues on the hillsides

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

A Zen temple of the Rinzai School built in the scenic area of Arashimaya in Kyoto. It was built by Takauji Ashikaga in memory of the recently deceased Emperor Go-Daigo.

A grand temple complex established on Mount Koya some 900 years ago

A temple with strings of ”monkey charms”

Ono no Komachi concealed herself here amongst the plum blossoms

Famous for a painted fusuma from Tohaku Hasegawa

The roads are covered with colorful leaves in autumn

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

This imposing temple serves as a center for Shugendo asceticism

A vault of many national cultural artifacts from the Nara period

Legend has it that the temple buildings were built by Emperor Shomu. In addition to the exquisite Kamakura-Period-style Romon Gate (National Treasure) facing the old road, there is a Kamakura-Period-style thirteen-story pagoda (Important Cultural Property) towering at the center of the temple grounds. The temple is also famous for its cosmos flowers.

Established by Emperor Shirakawa during the Heian Period, the temple's name derives from the ingo (posthumous Buddhist name) of Yoshiakira Ashikaga, the second shogun of the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun). While exploring the precinct, you'll find the graves of Yoshiakira and Masatsura Kusunoki, the busho (military commander) of Nancho (Southern Court) located next to each other. Masatsura was much respected by Yoshiakira even though he was an enemy general. During autumn, the maple leaves turn a striking red (visitors are not allowed to bring in a tripod stand or a unipod).

This famous shrine blossoms in full glory from season to season with its flowers

An inn within the temple complex

A three-tiered pagoda and world heritage site, 1200 years old

The oldest surviving building of Todaiji Temple. All the Buddhist statues stored here are national treasures

The head temple of Jodo Shinshu Hongan-ji School and affectionately referred to as ”Onishi-san” in the Shichijo Horikawa district.

Offer a prayer to Japan's largest Buddha statue in its oldest temple