Best Temples Spot List

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

Ono no Komachi concealed herself here amongst the plum blossoms

A temple that has long protected Arima Onsen

The nation’s head Koyasan Shingon-shu temple

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

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

Nara's symbol, the world's largest bronze statue of Rushana Daibutsu is seated in the Great Buddha Hall located in the vast grounds. The temple has been designated as a World Heritage site.

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

A Zen temple associated with warlord Date Masamune. Visit the main hall, which is a designated national treasure, and the architectural masterpiece that is the Kuri (kitchen building).

This is a historically valuable temple that has National Treasures within its magnificent scenery that makes good use of nature. Zazen seated meditation meetings are held on weekends.

A vault of many national cultural artifacts from the Nara period

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).

Main priests' residence of Senso-ji complex where the Three Buddha Statues of Amitabha are enshrined. The temple also houses ancestral tablets of Tokugawa Shoguns.

A temple of flowers, with a circuit-style garden

It is the Buddhist temple which is said to be the origin of maneki-neko or a luck-inviting cat figurine, beckoning with its right front paw. In its temple grounds, a number of historical assets still remain.

This is an old temple that is said to have been built in the Kamakura period (1192 to 1333). During the Edo period (1603 to 1868), it became known for the tomi-kuji lottery and was called Edo-santomi (three shrines selling lotteries).

A spacious Buddhist temple with buildings of historical and cultural value. Kan'ei-ji is easily accessible to the general public and heartily welcomes visitors.

Famous for the Great Buddha of Kamakura which weighs 121 tonnes, Kotoku-in is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo-shu sect.

The fierce-eyed Fudo Myo-o (Acala) statue, this Buddhist temple's main object of worship, is really astounding. The backdrop of beautiful red maple leaves is also impressive.

Surrounded by nature and visited by many people, Bentendo Temple rises from the center of Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park.