Travel / Tourism Spots in Kyoto Area

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Category

Travel / Tourism

Yasaka-jinja Shrine (Gion Shrine)

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Gionmachikitagawa 625

Popularly known as Gion Shrine, this Shinto shrine is the head shrine of all 3,000 some Gion shrines in Japan. The main shrine building, a designated Important Cultural Property, is actually comprised of the separate shrine sanctuary and worship hall combined under one roof in an architectural style called Gion-zukuri. The shrine’s famed Gion Matsuri festival in summer got its start as a ceremony to pray for the end of a great plague in 869. From New Year’s Eve through New Year’s Day, the shrine is visited by a great many worshippers come to perform the “okera-mairi” ceremony. The ceremony involves lighting a lucky rope from sacred fire of burning “okera” (Atractylodes japonica) roots to bring the fire home and start one’s first home fire of the new year, thus bringing good luck for the rest of the year. The Ota-sha Shrahige-jinja Shrine located on the grounds of Yasaka Shrine is believed to provide grant divine favor to those seeking to improve in the performing arts and, as such, the shrine is visited by Gion geisha and maiko.
Ujigami-jinja Shrine

4.0

366 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Ujishi Uji Yamada 59

The main shrine building of this Shinto shrine is believed to be Japan’s oldest example of shrine architecture and is dedicated to Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko, Emperor Ojin, and Emperor Nintoku. The main shrine building, a National Treasure, is thatched with hinoki bark and is flanked on either side by inner shrines. All three buildings are built in the same nagare-zukuri architectural style. The front shrine standing in front of the main shrine building, a National Treasure, is built with hinoki cypress felled in the early Heian period and is a rare example of the ancient shinden-zukuri architectural style. In 1994, the entire grounds of the shrine were registered as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto” World Heritage listing.

Beautiful cherry trees within the shrine area:A must see during the sakura-season. Also beautifully located at the Uji-River - really worth a visit.
Daigoji Temple

4.5

66 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Fushimi-ku Daigohigashiojichou 22

This temple is the grand head temple of the Daigo School of the Shingon sect and is located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. The ample grounds of this temple cover over 1633 acres on Mt. Daigo, and is registered as a world heritage. In 874, one of Kukai's disciple's disciple, Rigen Daishi Shobo, built a simple edifice on this mountain which became the beginnings of this temple. The temple is divided into upper Daigoand lower Daigo, connected by a rugged mountain path. The premises are allocated with over 80 pagodas and temples. Notable, the golden pavilion that is a national treasure, and the five-tier pagoda built in the Heian period of which there are only a few in the prefecture. On the second Sunday in April, the HotaikoHanamigyoretsu procession, which ToyotomiHideyoshi started, is held annually in concurrence with the Daigo Hanami flower festival.

We loved every bit of this place.Beautiful ponds and those flowers everywhere is just heavenly.We went during cherry blossom season which made it even more pretty.
Honen-in Temple

4.5

284 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Shishigatanigoshonodanchou 30

This is a mountain temple of the Jodo Buddhist sect in Higashiyama, with a renovated thatched hut that was once used for six o’clock prayer by Honen priests and their followers. The road leading to the temple has white sand platforms on each side representing water, and by passing between them one’s mind and body can be purified. The garden with pond is particularly wonderful in the autumn season when changing leaves can be seen. The temple is full of special sights including Fusuma-e (painting on a sliding screen) by Kano Mitsunobu, and the grave of Tanizaki Junichiro only open during special time-limited events.

This temple is a little off the beaten path, and much less visited than other temples in Kyoto. I appreciated the peace and tranquility, and found the moss-covered thatched roof of the front gate to...
Kyoto Kyocera Art Museum

4.0

204 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Sakyo-ku Okazakienshojicho 124

Two special exhibits were very interesting. One on suggesting what future art will look like and one on fabric. Each entrance was priced separately. These two and the general exhibit were...
Arashiyama

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Ukyo-ku Arashiyama

One of Kyoto’s leading tourist attractions, this 381.5-meter-high mountain and its environs have been designated as a National Historic Place of Beauty. On the mountain are the Iwatayama Monkey Park and Horinji Temple. Widely known as a spot for seeing cherry blossoms and changing autumn leaves, the scenery combining the Katsuragawa River to Togetsukyo Bridge is often used as a motif on picture postcards and pamphlets. Popular activities include walking the “bamboo forest road” from Tenryuji Temple or going around temples or shrines, a railcar ride to Kameoka, of the “Hozugawa-kudari” (Hozugawa river boat ride) pleasure cruise ride down the river to Arashiyama.
Shosei-en Garden

4.0

248 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto Shimogyo-ku, Shima-nakaya-cho Toyonokono cho, Toyotami-cho

This garden is located in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto. An enclave of Higashi Honganji Temple, known as Ohigashi-san, it was designed by Ishikawa Jozan. You can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons, with irises and water lilies in the summer, and the changing color of leaves in the autumn. Because karatachi (Japanese bitter-orange) trees are planted around it, the garden is also known as Kikoku-tei (house of karatachi).

By late March wasnt spectacular but I really enjoyed my time there. I think I spent nearly 2 hours just strolling around. One of the best bits its that it was nearly empty.
Heian Jingu Shrine

3.5

10 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Okazakinishitennouchou

A Shinto shrine located in Sakyo Ward in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture which was erected in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of the ancient capital of Heian-Kyo. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei. The main shrine building is a 5/8th scale replica of the Heian-Kyo government reception hall used during the time of Emperor Kammu. The shrine’s solemn vermillion lacquered buildings roofed with green glazed tiles and the white gravel covering the grounds are a spectacle to behold. The surrounding Japanese garden is strolling garden built around a central pond which is divided into four separate sections filled with splendid flowering plants and trees appropriate to the four seasons. The shrine is also famous for its weeping cherry trees in spring.

明治時代に建てられたという平安神宮の応天門は、平安京の応天門の5/8スケールのレプリカだということですが、とても大きく立派です。この門より大きい平安京の応天門が消失してしまったのは、とても残念に思いました。
Imamiya-jinja Shrine

4.0

214 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Murasakinoimamiyachou 21

A Shinto shrine located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City distinguished by its vivid red lacquering. The shrine is also called Tamanokoshi-jinja (the Shrine of the Jeweled Palanquin). The shrine was established to alleviate infectious disease and disasters in downtown Kyoto during the Heian period, and the shrine attracts faithful seeking sound health and long life. Venerable shops selling aburi mochi rice cakes stand in front of the shrine’s East Gate, and it is said eating these wards away disease and evil. The Yasurai Festival, held since the shrine’s founding to ward away infectious disease, is officially designated a national Important Intangible Folk-Cultural Property as the Yasurai-bana, and is held each year on the second Sunday of April.

A shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto City that you should visit along with Daitokuji Temple. Compared to major tourist spots, there are relatively few people and the atmosphere is quiet, so you can visitthe...
Mikane-jinja Shrine

4.0

147 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Nakagyo-ku Oshinishinotoincho 614

買い物帰りに立ち寄ってみました。最近はテレビの影響で人が多いのですが授与所の開設営業時間外であれば意外と空いています。ただしお守り等購入はできません。年末年始の営業時間がHPに載っていたので書いておきます↓ 「授与所の開設時間（年末年始2021−2022）」 -12月30日・31日・・・午前10時-午後6時 -1月1日-10日・・・・午前9時-午後6時 -1月11日以降は・・・午前10時...
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

4.0

203 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagatorimotoadashinochou 17

This is a temple of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect in Sagano. Adashino has been an area of funerals from time immemorial, and people offer stone Buddhist images and regret being separated from the deceased. Inside, the grounds are lined with 8,000 stone Buddhist images and stone monuments, each in memory of the souls at Adashino. Each year on the 23rd and 24th of August, the stone Buddhist images and stone monuments are lit with lamps in a 1,000 lamp memorial service, bringing in a great many visitors.

If want to visit temples in Arashiyama, this is one of few recommended temples, especially during autumn season. Unlike other temple. it is also a cemetery. It have lots of stone statues to...
Chohoji Temple (Rokkaku-do)

4.0

241 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nakagyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Tsu Rokkaku Higashibora Council Nishiiri Donomae-cho

An independent Tendai Buddhist temple said to be established by Prince Shotoku (574–622) located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple is commonly known as the Rokkaku-do (Hexagonal Hall) due to the hexagonal main temple building. The temple has numerous interesting highlights, including the site of a pond where Prince Shotoku is said to have purified himself, smiling figures of the 16 arhats, and the Rokkaku Willow, which is believed to provide luck with marriage. The Ikenobo family served for generations as the head priests of the temple, and the various contributions they made to Buddhist prayer flower arrangements make the temple the birthplace of the traditional art of flower arranging.

Rokkaku-do Temple was along Rokkaku-dori Street, which runs east and west. We visited the temple in passing. Along the street, there used to be Rokkaku Jail, which is one of holy places for...
Shisen-do Jozanji Temple

4.5

250 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ichijoujimonguchichou 27

Located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, this was once the site of a mountain villa built by Edo period literati Ishikawa Jozan for his retirement. It is a nationally designated Historic Site. Today, it is a Soto Buddhist temple that is also called the Jozan-ji. Jozan had the Shisen-do built at the age of 59. For the remaining 30 some years of his life, this great man of letters devoted his time to poetry, calligraphy, and gardening, to the exclusion of even sleeping and eating. The Shisen-do preserves a great number of his works and calligraphy and, in addition to a standing exhibition, the temple a special three day exhibition starting from May 23 each year, the anniversary of Jozan’s death. The temple’s garden was designed by Jozan himself, a renowned gardener, and is particularly famous for its satsuki azaleas in spring and fall foliage in autumn. It is said that the first shishi-odoshi was created here. The shishi-odoshi is a bamboo tube balanced on a pivot which slowly fills with water until it tips over, draining the water and falling back into position with a “plonk” noise. Shishi-odoshi are practical – their sound scares away deer and wild boars that might eat garden plants – but their sound also accentuates the silence of a garden, and it is said Jozan loved the sound they made.

The garden of Shisen-do is simply out of this world. I would rank it without hesitation to the top 5 of Kyoto gardens:not only has it an impeccable composition, it is also fundamentally different...
Jingo-ji Temple

4.5

195 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Umegahata Kaohsiung-cho 5

A Koyosan Shingon Buddhist temple located in Ukyo Ward in Kyoto City. The temple is also located in in the center of Mt. Takao in the Atago Mountain Range. Founded by the nobleman Wake no Kiyomaro, the famed priest Kukai served here for 14 years starting in 809. The Daishido Hall was a reconstruction of the residence where Kukai lived. Built in a residential style, it is a designated Important Cultural Property. The temple’s principle object of worship, a standing figure of the Healing Buddha, is a National Treasure and aside from the painted red lips and black eyebrows and eyes is bar wood. The temple houses numerous Buddhist artworks and cultural properties, such as the standing figures of the Five Major Kokuzo Bosatsu in the two-tier pagoda as well as a temple bell regarded as one of the three most famous in Japan. Visitors can also enjoy throwing an earthenware plate, a tradition to ward away evil, in front of the Jizoin hall.

If you are not capable of walking stairs, don’t go. The temple is located on the top of Takaosan hill and visitors need to walk down and up the valley and stairs. And the temple is very natural and...
Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine

4.0

243 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nakagyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Shinkyogoku communication Nishikikoji

A Shinto shrine located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City dedicated to the Tenman-Tenjin (Sugawara no Michizane). The shrine is located on the eastern edge of Nishiki Market, considered the “Kitchen of Kyoto,” and attracts worshipers seeking to be blessed by the god of wisdom, scholarship, and business acumen, as well as good luck, warding from evil, and prevention of disaster. There is a mikuji (fortune slip) vending machine called Karakuri mikuji in front of the shrine office – insert a coin and select the type of fortune you would like to receive and the lion-dog statue in the machine will dance to kagura music until your slip is issued. The shrine’s ground span some 660 square meters and contain a spring called the Nishiki no Mizu whose waters remain a cool 18 degrees Celsius even in the middle of summer; many visitors come here just to taste these famous Kyoto waters.

This small shrine in the shopping district of Kyoto is hard to miss if youre on the shopping trail. It is a very nicely maintained small shrine just of Shinkyogoku.
Honno-ji Temple

3.5

189 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Nakagyo-ku Teramachi-dori Oimachiro Down Shimotsunagae-cho 522

Located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, this is the head temple of Hokke Honmon Buddhism. The temple is famous as being the site where Oda Nobunaga was defeated by Akechi Mitsuhide. The temple was originally located at Horigawa Shijo, but was rebuilt at its current location by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after the Oda Nobunaga incident. A memorial tower stands on the grounds that is believed to have once housed Nobunaga’s longsword. In memory of the Nobunaga incident (June in 1582), the Nobunaga Festival is held each year at the temple on the first Saturday and Sunday of June.

We had a quick look round this historic temple, located just off the shopping streets! To be honest, its nothing amazing, but still worth a quick look if youre in the area.
Hosen-in Temple

4.5

199 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Oharashourininchou 187

A Buddhist temple located in Oharashorinin-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. One of the three Tendai Monzeki temples, it stands on the road approaching the Sanzen-in Temple. The temple’s beautiful “framed garden” is powerful and lush, with a 300 year old sal tree and a 700 year old Japanese white pine which has been designated a Natural Monument by the city of Kyoto. Visitors can pass through a tatami room with a view of the white pine and exchange a ticket provided at the grounds entrance to receive a cup of matcha green tea and an original temple confection.

Enjoyed szopping here...... nice and a bit off the beaten tracck with few visitors and a rather comparable small size
Matsunoo Taisha

4.0

183 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Nishikyou-ku Arashiyamamiyamachi 3

The oldest Shinto shrine in Kyoto and located in Nishikyo Ward. Seated at the foot of Mt. Matsuo, the shrine’s object of worship, the distinctive Muromachi period (1333–1568) architecture of the main shrine building is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The mountain is seen as the god of sake and has attracted followers accordingly since the Middle Ages; the shrine’s mikoshi hall is stacked high with sake barrels. The waters of the shrine’s Kame-no-I (Turtle Well) are also famed for giving health, long life, and revitalization, and sake brewers, producers, and salespeople from around the country still come here to bring some of the water home with them.

Matsuo Taisha is one of the oldest shrine, and its God is a protector of Sake brewing. I had visited long time ago, but this time I happened to pass nearby, so I paid a visit. As the new year...
Zuiganzan Enkouji Temple

4.5

196 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ichijoujikotanichou 13

A Rinzai Nanzen-ji Buddhist temple located in the Ichijo-ji area of Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple was erected in 1601 by Sanyo Genkitsu (Kanshitsu), Zen priest and ninth head of the Ashikaga Gakko school, who was asked to do so by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to promote education and learning in the nation. The beauty of the temple’s garden, a traditional strolling garden built around a central pond, is said to have been much praised by ancient people, and is still a must-see today. The garden is filled with sights, including a traditional Suikinkutsu (ceramic pot under the ground) said to purify the soul with the clear sound of the water dripping into it; “Honryutei,” a dry landscape garden; and the “Jyu-gyu no niwa” Garden, famed for its moss and autumn foliage. The temple was also the site where the Fushimi-ban, one of Japan’s first printed books, was created, and the roughly 50 thousand wooden printing type used to make the book kept at the temple are designated an Important Cultural Property as Japan’s oldest printed type.

Its a hidden gem. You need to take the metro, a bus and walk for 15-20min to get there. But its worth. Tranquility, serenity.. and very small statues, very cute. They close at 5pm (in July)
Entoku-in Temple

4.0

181 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Kodai-ji Shimogawara-cho, 530

Located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, this is one of the sub temples of the Kodai-ji, Rinzai Kennin-ji Buddhist temple. Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s legal wife, Kitanomandokoro (known as Nene), spent the last 19 years of her life here. The temple’s North Garden is comprised of the Kesho palace and garden at Fushimi Castle, places where Nene spent much time with Hideyoshi, which were moved here by Nene and prepared by Kobori Enshu (Masakazu). The garden is in the Momoyama period style and is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The temple also possesses numerous Important Cultural Properties, including screen paintings by Hasegawa Tohaku (1539–1610). On the third day of each month, the temple makes its principle object of worship, Sanmen Daikokuten (a three-faced figure of Mahakala) which ensured Hideyoshi’s success in life, open to the public. Visitors can make a prayer by writing a wish on a gourd-shaped slip of paper.

This temple is part of Kodajis temple and usually the admission is sold as a package deal. However one can choose to see this single temple. It is a small temple that offers tea services and...

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Kyoto Areas

Its wooden tea houses, shuffling geisha, and spiritual sights have seen Kyoto hailed as the heart of traditional Japan, a world apart from ultramodern Tokyo. Despite being the Japanese capital for over a century, Kyoto escaped destruction during World War II, leaving behind a fascinating history which can be felt at every turn, from the fully gold-plated Kinkakuji Temple down to traditional customs such as geisha performances and tea ceremonies, which are still practiced to this day.