Best Architecture Spot List

The head Kumano shrine where various Kumano deities are worshiped

The centerpiece of the sacred Dewa Sanzan

Famous for its deity of scholarship

A popular spot for taking commemorative photos

Known for “the evening bell of Mii-dera”, one of the Eight Views of Omi

A well-known shrine for its Chichibu Night Festival. Chichibu shrine enshrines several gods and has a history of over 2,100 years.

Yushima-tenjin enshrines Amenotajikarao-no-mikoto, the god of better fortune and sports, and Michizane Sugawara, the god of learning and study. A number of famed scholars and writers visit this shrine.

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

A Nichiren Buddhist temple housing Kishimojin (Hariti), the deity of easy childbirth. Steeped in nature, Kishimojin-do has been a popular site for viewing cherry blossoms since the Edo period (1603-1868).

A shrine to visit for breaking bad habits or starting good ones

The head of Japan’s Kumano shrines—famous for matchmaking

This large temple complex boasts a magnificent ancient hall

Encounter a god of matchmaking in a busy district

A house where you can experience the life of a Meiji era diplomat. You can also enjoy a cup of tea with a view of the city of Yokohama.

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.

Famous for the bell that angered Ieyasu

The building and garden represent the modern Japanese architecture in a semi-Western style.

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.

A mysterious building with a unique structure that has two separate stairways

A beautiful castle otherwise known as Shirasagi-jo Castle. It was Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site.