Best Architecture Spot List

Having many children themselves, rabbits symbolize safe child-rearing here

The main training center for Shingon Esoteric Buddhism with its iconic five-story pagoda, the key landmark of Kyoto's scenery. The temple is known as ”Daishi's temple.”

Hanazono-jinja Shrine in Shinjuku, loved by many as an urban oasis.

The scattered fallen leaves in autumn are beautiful

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 guardian buck and doe are enshrined

A popular spot for taking commemorative photos

Known for its god that brings economic blessings

A shrine built to represent the nation's wish for peace. Yushukan displays relics and wills, and it is worth visiting.

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.

Built in 1926, this was the residence of a silk yarn trader. You can have tea there while feeling the season.

This ancient temple contains the history of the Southern Dynasty

Enshrines Japan's top Shinto deity

Known as the shinto shrine related to Yoshida Shoin, a samurai clan member of the Choshu Domain who had enormous influence on the movement to topple the Edo Shogunate during the mid-19th century. Now deified, he has become popular as a god of academic success.

Where the successful Hideyoshi Toyotomi worshipped the three-faced Daikokuten

The temple is the oldest one in Kamakura, founded by a high priest called Gyoki. Its principal image of worship is the three figures of eleven-faced Kan'non, and the temple ground is covered with various flowers throughout the seasons.

Twin Dragons created during the Heisei period watch over Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple

Hasedera or the Hasedera Temple is an old temple with a view of the ocean and the town of Hase in Kamakura. Various flowers bloom in the garden from season to season. Its principal image of worship is one of the largest wooden statues in Japan.

Yamate 234 Ban-Kan, or the Yamate #234 Residence, is a Western-style mansion that served as an apartment building for foreign residents. The panel exhibits displayed on the first floor tell the history of the building.

This temple is the daihonzan (head temple) of the Kencho-ji Temple school of the Rinzai sect and ranks first among the Kamakura Gozan (Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples). It has a number of national treasures, cultural assets, and historical structures. The Sanmon (three gates) are a must-see.