History / Culture / Tour Spots in Kyoto Area

Area

Kyoto
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Miyakomesse

3.5

38 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Okazakiseishoujichou 9-1

This event venue was constructed in commemoration of the 1,200th anniversary of the ancient capital of Heian-Kyo and first opened its doors in 1996. The event hall is used for a variety of events such as those promoting traditional industries. The hall’s exhibition and meeting spaces are used for trade fairs and other functions. The venue also hosts the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts and the Japan Design Museum, two permanent exhibitions which present the style and the traditional industries of Kyoto. A café/restaurant adjoins the museum, as well as the museum’s shop, which sells traditional crafts. Higashiyama Station is the closest station to the venue.

平安神宮のすぐ近くにあるのでついでに立ち寄りました。なかなかの規模のイベント会場で企業展なども行われるようですし、京都の伝統工芸が見学できるミュージアムもあり、企画展でなかれば無料で見学できました。時間があれば立ち寄ってもいい場所だと思います。
Yogen-in Temple

4.0

117 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Sanjusangendomawari-cho

A Jodo Shinshu Kengo-in Buddhist temple located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s concubine Yodo-dono asked Hideyoshi to build the temple in honor of her deceased father Asai Nagamasa. The temple was destroyed once but restored in 1621, after which the Tokugawa shogunate enshrine a mortuary tablet here honoring successive generations of shogun and the temple became a family cemetery for the Tokugawa clan. The main temple building was a place at Fushimi Castle that was moved here. The “Bloody Ceilings” of the left, right, and main corridors memorialize the great battle that occurred at Fushimi Castle. The temples screen paintings created by Tawaraya Sotatsu are registered Important Cultural Properties and the Image of White Elephants and Image of Lions, painted in a three dimensional style, are must-sees.

Yogen-in temple is located just at east side of Sanjusangendo temple. It is not very known for tourists, but I found it very interesting. Two things that you cannot miss:bloody ceiling which is...
Seiryo-ji Temple

4.0

138 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagashakadoufujinokichou 46

A Jyodo Buddhist temple located in the Saga area of Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. Given the honorific mountain name Mt. Godai, the temple’s principle object of worship is a figure of Gautama Buddha. Known as the Saga Shaka-do, it has also been known as the Yuzu Nenbutsu no Dojo since the Middle Ages. The temple was founded when Minamoto no Toru, said to be the model for the heroic character of Hikaru Genji in The Tale of Genji, erected the Amitabha hall. The temple’s Gautama statue was brought by a priest called Chonen (934–1016) from Sung China who made a pilgrimage to Mt. Godai. Called the “Living Gautama,” it is a designated National Treasure. The figure is specially unveiled in April, May, October, and November, giving the general public a chance to see its unusual, non-Japanese styling.

There are so many temples along this street near the Bamboo Forest that it is impossible to pick and choose. The Seiryoji Temple stood out because it had an extraordinary gate that is very...
Ryoanji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Ryouanji Otoritoshita 13

This Buddhist temple in Ukyo Ward in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture is famous for its rock garden. A Zen temple, it was founded in 1450 by the statesman Hosokawa Katsumoto. The shrine grew dilapidated due to the anti-Buddhism movement of the early Meiji period but became world-famous after Queen Elizabeth II visited the temple and praised the beauty of the rock garden. The garden, called the Hojo Tei-en, is a traditional flat garden comprised of 15 stones of various sizes placed amongst white gravel which are designed such that one of the stones will not be visible no matter what angle one views the garden from. Highlights of the temple include Japanese camellias admired by the great general Toyotomi Hideyoshi as well as the Zorakuan tea house. The best time to see the water lilies blooming in the temple pond starts from early summer.
Jakkoin Temple

4.0

139 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Oharakusaochou 676

This temple is in Ohara, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, and is famous for its ties to the Tale of the Heike Legend. Exact details of the temple's establishment are unknown but it is said to have been constructed by Shotoku Taishi in 594 to ensure his father's, Emperor Youmei's, happiness in the next life. Taira no Tokuko, also Kenreimon-in, daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, wife of Emperor Takakura and mother of Emperor Antoku, survived her drowning suicide attempt at the battle of Dan-no-Ura. Afterwards she became a nun secluded within the temple to pray for the happiness of her son and Tira clan in the next life. On the grounds are a pond and cherry trees associated with visits from Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa and the Tale of the Heike and the changing autumn colors provide beautiful scenery.

haunting reminder of the transience of life. beautiful place:again like Gioji, best experienced in solitude.
Toji-in Temple

4.5

108 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Toujinkitamachi 63

A Rinzai Tenryu-ji Buddhist temple located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City. The family temple of the Ashikaga clan, it is also famous for being the grave site of Ashikaga Takauji. The temple garden was created when it was first founded by Muso Kokushi (Soseki), famous as the designer of the gardens at the Tenryu-ji Temple and Saiho-ji Temple (commonly called Koke-dera, Moss Temple). The garden is actually comprised of two separate, differing gardens built around two ponds in the east and west—a dry landscape garden and a traditional circular strolling garden. The western garden is particularly well known for its numerous sights, including the pond created in the shape of a cotton rose blossom, its tea room, and the wooden figures of Ashikaga generals enshrined in the Reikoden hall.

Small temple with garden that has loads to offer. It was one of my favourite temples in all Kyoto. Thats probably the case because we were like 4 visitors around 2 PM on a grey Tuesday. I highly...
Nariaiji Temple

4.0

114 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Miyadushi Nariaiji 339

This is number 28 of the 33 Saigoku pilgrimage (33 temples in the Kinki area containing a statue of Kannon) temples. The principal object of worship is the beautiful Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), and it said that if one visits the temple both mind and body will become beautiful. Spring cherry blossoms and autumn changing leaves are both wonderful, and from the ground’s viewing platform offers views of the renowned area of scenic beauty “Amanohashidate,” one of Japan’s three famous sites.

Not many tourist. A peaceful place, you may take bus from the Kasamatsu Park and arrive in 7 minutes. Be aware of the but timeable since the park close early.
Hyakumanben Chionji Temple (Hyakumanben-san)

4.0

97 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Tanakamonzenchou 103

Located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, this is one of the head temples of Pure Land Buddhism. After a great earthquake in 1331 resulted in an outbreak of disease, the priest Zenna Kuen made one million prayers for the disease to be alleviated, after which Emperor Go-Daigo granted the temple the title of “Hyakumanben” (“one million prayers”). The temple is the site of many structures designated Important Cultural Properties, including the so-keyaki-zukuri style Image Hall, Amitabha Hall, and Gautama Buddha Hall. A market dedicated to handmade items is also held on the temple grounds every month on the 15th, with some 300 stalls selling handmade goods.

Chionji is a relatively big temple, which stands at the corner of Higashioji and Imadegawa Avenue. It is very close to Kyoto University and nice to take a walk around. Open-air market of this temple...
Nanzen-ji Zen Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Nanzenjifukuchichou

The head temple of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple was founded by the priest Mukan Fumon as the Zenrin-ji-dono, the imperial villa of Emperor Kameyama in 1291. The temple’s standing is high; it is considered above the five most important Rinzai temples in both Kyoto and Kamakura. Its triple gate is considered one of the three most impressive temple gates in Kyoto and is also famous as the setting of a scene in the kabuki play Sanmon gosan no kiri, in which the character of Ichikawa Goemon utters the well-known line, “How beautiful, how beautiful!” The temple houses numerous Important Cultural Properties, such as famed painter Kano Tan’yu’s screen paining The Tiger of Mizunomi. The grounds contain an abbot’s residence which is a National Treasure and was moved here from the former imperial palace of Fushimi Castle. The temple’s garden is a dry landscape garden representative of the early Edo period style.
Nanzen-ji Zen Temple Tenjuan

4.5

119 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Nanzenjifukuchichou

A sub temple of the Nanzen-ji Zen Temple located in Sakyo Ward in Kyoto City. The temple was built by imperial charter from Emperor Kogon in 1339 as the private hermitage of Mukan Fumon, the priest who founded the Nanzen-ji Zen Temple. Visitors can enjoy two Japanese gardens—a strolling garden built around a central pond thick with trees, and a landscape garden composed of white sand and rhomboidal stones. The fall foliage is gorgeous and the view from the main temple nave is truly superb. The abbot’s chamber is decorated with a screen painting by the famed Hasegawa Tohaku which is a registered Important Cultural Property; unfortunately, however, it is not displayed to the general public.

Right next to Nanzen-ji San-mon gate the Tenju-an (a subtemple of Nanzen-ji) has a beautiful garden with white gravel field viewed from temple platform and also a stroll garden. The view from temple...
Yoshida-jinja Shrine

4.0

101 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Yoshidakaguraokachou 30

A Shinto shrine located on Mt. Yoshida in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The shrine was founded to protect the capital of Heian-kyo by Fujiwara no Yamakage in 859. The gods enshrined in its first and second halls ward against evil and provide good fortune. The god in the third hall is dedicated to scholarship, while the god of the fourth hall grants special favor to women. The shrine is famous for its Setsubun Festival, a tradition which dates back to the Muromachi period (1333–1568) and which is held for three days centering around Setsubun (the last day of winter in the traditional calendar). Visited by hundreds of thousands each year, the grounds bustle with shrinegoers seeking prayer slips to ward off evil and gardenia colored amulets sold at its many stands.

This temple is is a must to visit while in Kyoto. For good photos I recommend to be at this place in an early morning before it gets too crowded.
Yasaka Koshindo Temple

4.0

63 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Kinenchou 390

Inside are colorful “kukuri saru.” Kukuri saru are charms of monkeys with their hands and feet tied, and warn people not to rush towards what they want. If one controls himself against their desire and then prays to the kukuri saru, their wish will be granted. In addition, on the six Koshin days of the year there is “konnyaku dak,” cooked konnyaku (paste made from starch of arum roots). It is said that if one faces north and silently eats three kukuri saru-shaped konnyaku, they will live with sound health.

We had just visited the Kiyomizu Temple and were walking through the Higashiyama area of Kyoto. I happened to look down an alley to my left and saw many colorful balls, hanging like garlands from a...
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Otabisho

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Minami-ku Nishikujouikenouchichou 98

Located about five minutes on foot from Kyoto Station in Minami Ward, Kyoto City, this is the spot where Fushimi Inari's mikoshi (portable shrine) is stored. Tourists and locals pour in for the annual Inari Festival from late April to early May when the precincts are lined with a variety of stalls. During this time visitors can receive a goshuin, the shrine's official stamp.
Sanjusangendo Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku
Zuishin-in Temple

4.0

71 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Yamashina-ku Onogoryouchou 35

A Buddhist temple which was once the home of the renowned Heian period woman poet Ono no Komachi founded in 991. The temple nave houses a seated figure of Cintamani-cakra (the temple’s principal object of worship), a figure of Amitabha (an Important Cultural Property) in the Jocho style, and a figure of Vajrasattva crafted by Kaikei. Also famous for its beautiful, late-blooming Japanese apricot trees, the temple grounds, decorated with elegant flowering plants, are truly befitting of a place connected to Ono no Komachi, famed for her beauty. Numerous sites relating to the poet can be found on the temple grounds, including a mound under which many letters sent to Komachi are buried, a well which Komachi used to wash her face, and a Jizo statue said to have been covered under its paint with love letters to Komachi.

The garden is amazing. It is a temple related to Ono Komachi, an “excellent beauty”. A lot of cute Komachi souvenirs are on sale.
Izumo Daijingu Shrine

4.0

70 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kameokashi Chitosechouchitose No way out

Izumo Daijingu Shrine is famous as a shrine for marriage. There is an abundance of things to see including the Meoto-iwa that links the red strings of fate attached to marriage charms, the miraculous Manai water that gushes from Mt. Mikage as the goshintaizan (mountain worshiped as the sacred dwelling place of a deity or deities) and the iwakura where good fortune resides. Prayers for marriage are held on the fourth Sunday of every month.

いろんな神様が祀られていて、賽銭箱もたくさんありました。さほど大きくない神社だけど七五三や結婚式のポスターも貼られていて、御朱印もやってもらえました。枯葉で作られたハートが、さすが縁結びの神社だなと楽しくなりました。
Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum

4.0

100 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Maidurushi Taira 1584 Inside collection memorial park

This memorial hall is on the grounds of the Repatriation Memorial Park in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. In 1945, the first repatriation ship arrived at Maizuru Port. As the city welcomed many of the returnees, it's the only place in the country with exhibits on repatriation. In addition, you can see 570 items recorded in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

第２次世界大戦後に、旧ソ連軍による抑留生活を経験した記録が残っています。どれほどの苦労だったのかがわかり一度は訪れる価値がある場所です。
Toyokuni-jinja Shrine

3.5

72 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Yamato-dori-dori Front Chayamachi 530

This is a Shinto shrine in the Higashiyama district dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Abandoned with the fall of Toyotomi and the orders of the House of Tokugawa, it was nevertheless rebuilt later under the imperial command of Emperor Meiji. The karamon gate, a remnant of Fushimi Castle, represents Momoyama culture and is designated a National Treasure. There are also several Important Cultural Properties on display including Hideyoshi’s six-legged Chinese-style chest stored in the shrine sanctuary.

豊臣秀吉を祀る神社で、京都十六社の一社です。また刀剣「骨喰藤四郎」の聖地としても話題の神社。『唐門』は元は伏見城の楼門だったと言われ、国宝に指定されています。一時期、豊臣家の滅亡により、豊国神社は廃社になり、豊国大明神の神号も剥奪されました。ところが豊国神社のご神体は秘かに京都市東山区の妙法院で祭られ、江戸時代の中頃からは同じく東山区の新日吉（いまひえ）神宮で別名にて祭られます。神様になっても秀吉...
Seizanjodoshu Sohonzan Komyoji Temple

4.5

101 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Nagaokakyoushi Ao Saijou Inside 26-1

Famous for the brilliant late fall colors of the Japanese maples that line its approach, Komyoji Temple is the seventh sacred site of the Kyoto Rakusai Kannon pilgrimage. The grounds cover about 66,000 square meters and encompass 32 temple buildings. On the second Sunday of the month they hold a tea ceremony for the public in their Hirotaniken tea room. The temple is popular for taking some time out while watching the plums and weeping cherry trees in spring and the maple leaves turning in autumn.

popular spot for autumn in west Kyoto. need bus or cabs to visit, but it worth to visit. Tunnel of leaves and photogenic temple halls. it is great for spring season, and free admission.
Kyoto Railway Museum

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Shimogyou-ku Kankijichou

A museum dedicated to railways located on the western side of Kyoto Station. The museum features some 31 thousand square meters of exhibition space, which was the largest in Japan when the facility first opened. The facility displays 53 trains which helped lead the modernization of Japan. The museum is full of other interesting sights and activities, as well, including a giant railroad diorama, a train which visitors can ride pulled by a real steam engine, and a train simulator which shows what it's like to drive a train. The museum also provides a variety of cultural activities such as guided tours and workshops conducted by JR West Japan employees. Walk 20 minutes west from the central entrance of JR Kyoto Station.

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour

Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Shrine Castle / Ruins of Castle Historical Monument Temple Church Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Memorial Hall Cultural Property Event Hall / Public Hall Art Museum Museum / Science Museum Other Historic Site/Building

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.