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.

Two different windows overlooking a garden

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.

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

Known by locals as “Kurodani-san”

A temple associated with Heian-era poet Ariwara no Narihara

The graceful standing statue of Gigeiten is a must-see attraction

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

A school that embodies the dreams of Buddhist teacher Kobo Daishi

A temple famous for its Bone Buddhas

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.

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

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).

A vault of many national cultural artifacts from the Nara period

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

One of Japan's famous ancient temples, quietly nestled in Ikaruga

The Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida’s dazzling dream, a gold space that reflects upon a pond

Famous for its national treasure, a statue of Miroku Bosatsu

Famous for ”The Scrolls of Frolicking Animals and Humans”

A temple with a living, breathing aesthetic sense of the tea ceremony