Best Temples Spot List

Where the emperors and nobles enjoyed themselves

Himeji’s famous mountain-top temple

Tie your prayers under the branches of the willow trees

Check out the ”Sento Kuyo” ceremony on summer nights

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 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.

This temple is one of the Three Mountains of the Kanto region for the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism and is well-known as a temple to ward off evil. Enjoy the shops in the surrounding streets after attending a Goma Rite (a ceremony in which Goma wood is burned in a fireplace on the Goma platform).

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

The nation’s head Koyasan Shingon-shu temple

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.

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

Still your heart with the soothing autumn leaves of Kitasaga

A temple associated with Heian-era poet Ariwara no Narihara

Autumn colors light up the moss garden in this temple's garden of enlightenment

This is a temple erected at the wish of Keishoin, the real mother of Shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa. The main hall, remaining in its original state from the Genroku period, has been designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

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.

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.”

Quietly praying to the rakan statues on the hillsides

The head temple of the Myoshin-ji Temple school of the Rinzai sect. It is Japan's largest Zen temple, with 46 sub-temples.

The Naritasan Shinshoji Temple has attracted many worshipers for more than 1,000 years. There are many assets designated as an Important Cultural Properties on its vast temple grounds.