Best Temples 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.

You can experience making a Buddhist rosary using genuine stones, while looking at the graceful garden

The abbot’s chambers are surrounded by four gardens

Enjoy the burning red foliage in autumn and the cherry blossoms and rhododendrons in spring

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.

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

Shitenno-ji Temple is the oldest state-built Buddhist temple in Japan, established in 593 by Prince Shotoku. The architectural structures seen today are faithful reproductions of the temple's original appearance.

Beloved Buddha artifacts inside the school of Heijo Palace

An ancient temple supported by common people

Featuring a wooden statue of a historical Shogun from the Ashikaga period

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.”

A temple with strings of ”monkey charms”

Magnificent views await at the end of the 1,015-step climb

A beautiful temple like the Pure Land itself that illustrates the prosperity of the Fujiwara regency during the late Heian Period.

A temple associated with Heian-era poet Ariwara no Narihara

Make your wishes at Nariai-ji Temple

A temple of the Nichiren sect on Mt. Ogura in Sagano. It is well-known for ”Hyakunin Isshu” (a collection of 100 poems by 100 different poets). In autumn, the nearby mountains awash with brilliant red leaves.

Blessed with knowledge by Monju

Known by locals as “Kurodani-san”

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