検索ボックス

Temple Spots in Around Gion Area

Area

  • Kodai-ji Zen Temple
    rating-image
    4.5
    1499 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Kodaiji Shimogawara-machi 526
    This temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City was founded in 1606 to pray for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's happiness in the next life by his wife, Nene. Along with a mausoleum for the both of them, you can also visit the front gate of former Fushimi castle, the Kasatei teahouse, the Shiguretei teahouse, the Kaisando hall which holds favorite mementos of the two, and the Mizukidai pavilion (all of which are Important Cultural Properties of Japan). The fine gold lacquer work on the Buddha dais and miniature shrine within the mausoleum are masterpieces of Momoyama-period artwork and known as Kodai-ji Temple Makie. The garden on site surrounding a small pond is not to be missed and has been nationally designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty as well as a Historic Site. It is lit up during the sakura cherry blossom season in spring, at night in summer, during the gorgeous foliage season in fall, and on New Year's Eve.

    This is a smaller but beautiful temple in the heart of Kyoto. There are nice walking trails through the complex.

    Kodai-ji Zen Temple image
  • Kenninji Temple
    rating-image
    4.5
    1004 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Yamato Daicho Route Shijo Shimo Le Komatsu Town
    A Rinzai Sect Buddhist temple located in Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture and the oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. Erected thanks to funds donated by the Shogun Minamoto no Yoriie in 1202, the temple was founded by the priest Eisai and was modeled after Song China’s holy Mt. Bozhang. The temple is famous for its Image of Raijin and Fujin, a National Treasure created by famed painter Tawaraya Sotatsu, as well as its numerous other sliding screen paintings and treasures designated Important Cultural Properties. The temple is also well known for the beauty of its Japanese gardens, including a dry landscape garden containing a delicate arrangement of white sand, moss, and boulders. The imperial envoy gate contains arrow marks and is built with a gabled roof. The abbot’s chamber, moved here from the Ankoku-ji Temple in old Aki Province, and the Image of Paired Dragons, 108 tatami mats in size and painted on ceiling of the lecture hall in 2002, are both must-sees.

    It seems this lovely temple is managing to avoid the hordes. We arrived at 10am on opening, removed our shoes and wandered the beautiful buildings, tatami mats, artworks and incredible roof painting...

    Kenninji Temple image
  • Chion-in temple
    rating-image
    4.0
    717 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Rinkachou 400
    This Buddhist temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City is the head temple of the Jodo Pure-land Buddhist Sect. It was founded on the grounds where Pure-land Sect founder Honen built a thatched hut and passed away. After his death the Tokugawa family expanded the grounds and began construction of what would be the large-scale temple. National Treasures of Japan on the ground include the Miedo Hall and the three main gates before the temple while the Karamon gate and the great bellower have been designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. A definite point to see are the three two-story wooden gates before the temple, which are the largest in Japan. * The Miedo Hall is closed for repair until 2020.

    We stumbled upon this active temple while walking through the area. We were able to witness a Buddhist prayer session and the temple was beautiful too.

    Chion-in temple image
  • Shoren-in Temple
    rating-image
    4.5
    776 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Awataguchisanjoubouchou 69-1
    Together with the Sanzen-in Temple and Myoho-in Temple, the Shoren-in Temple is a Tendai Buddhist temple. Because it served as a temporary Imperial palace in the Edo period, it is also called the “Old Kurita Imperial Palace.” This highly formal temple is deeply tied to the Imperial household—since ancient times, the temple’s head priest was a member of the Imperial household or a line of Imperial regents and advisors. The entire spacious approximately 33,000 square meter grounds are a nationally designated Historic Site. The highlights of the grounds are the temple’s two gardens which give visitors the chance to enjoy beautiful, seasonal scenery. One is a traditional circular strolling garden with a central pond created by Soami in the Muromachi period. The other, the Kirhishima-no-niwa, was created by Kobori Enshu (formally, Masakazu). Each year in spring and autumn, the gardens are lit up at night by approximately 1,000 lights large and small, creating magical sights.

    This temple looks more like a traditional Japanese home with tatami mats and open walls into garden. This is a must do if you want a glimpse into historical Japan.

    Shoren-in Temple image
  • 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.
    Yasaka-jinja Shrine (Gion Shrine) image
  • Entoku-in Temple
    rating-image
    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...

    Entoku-in Temple image
  • Rokudochinnoji Temple
    rating-image
    4.0
    75 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Yamato-shi Shinjoji Shimojo Le 4 - chome Komatsu cho 595
    A sub-temple of the Kennin-ji Temple popularly known as the Rokudo-san (“Rokudo Temple”). Because of its location, once the entranceway to Toribeno, the burial ground of ancient Kyoto, the temple was viewed as the “intersection between the six realms”—the connection point between this world and the world of the dead. There is a well on the grounds which legend has it early Heian period noble, scholar, and poet Ono no Takamura used to travel to and from the world of the dead, and the temple’s Enma-do hall contains figures of Takamura in addition to King Yama, judge of the afterlife. Each year from August 7 to 10, the Rokudo-mairi ceremony is conducted, and many people come to the temple to ring the “Welcoming Bell” which ushers in spirits from the world beyond.

    冥界の入口、葬送の道に建っているお寺です。 小野篁の縁で有名ですね。 入った途端に不思議な気が満ち満ちています。 たまたま六道参りの最中にお邪魔したせいか、いつもの参詣とはまるで違う雰囲気に飲み込まれそうになりました(^^)

    Rokudochinnoji Temple image
  • Choraku-ji Temple
    rating-image
    4.0
    50 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Yasakatorimae Eastern Eruyama Town 626
    Choraku-ji Temple is a temple related to the Tale of the Heike and located in Maruyama Park. As a place to enjoy the beauty of the passing seasons, it has been featured in numerous works of literature including Tale of the Heike, Konjaku Monogatarishu and Sankashu. The autumn changing leaves are a particular highlight. Inside the park one can also receive matcha tea.

    Chorakuji is located behind Maruyama Park. It is not on an usual touristic itinerary, not many people come to visit this temple. However, there is a grave of Rai Sanyo. A small museum of the temple’s...

    Choraku-ji Temple image
  • Ryosokuin Temple
    rating-image
    4.0
    41 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Yamatoojishijou Shimuru Komatsu cho 591
    Ryosokuin Temple is a sub temple of Kenniji Temple. The Buddhist image of Bishamonten (Vaisravana) that Kuroda Kanbee’s grandson Kuroda Nagamasa carried at Sekigahara was donated here and is said to help with fortune and victory. Early summer is the best time to see the beautiful Chinese lizards tails that spring up at the garden’s waterside. It is possible to try seated zen meditation from an hour.

    ^_^대박 너무 격조있고 평상시 개방하지 않아 궁금했었는데 마침 임시 개방하여 배관하였다 ㅡ 일단 품위 그 자체 격조이ㅛ는 정원과 분위기는 압도적이었으나 현대조소작가의 조각상을 군데군데 비치 해 놓아서 완전 꽝 이었다 완전 어울리지 않아 정원을 바라보는데 오히려 방해요소가 ㅠㅠ 요즘 교토에 현대 미술가들의 작품이라고 여기저기 해 놓는데 정말...

    Ryosokuin Temple image
  • Chugen-ji Temple (Meyami Jizo)
    rating-image
    3.5
    30 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku 4 Jodori Yamatooji Higashi Iru Gionmachiminamigawa 585
    "This Buddhist temple, nicknamed the Meyami Jizo (""Eye Illness Jizo""), is located in the center of bustling Gion. The Kamo River once flooded whenever it rained, and, because the people prayed to Jizo (Kshitigarbha) via the temple for the rain to stop, the temple was originally known as the ""Ameyami Jizo"" (""Rain-Stopping Jizo""). It is said that over time, ""Ameyami (rain-stopping)"" transformed into ""Meyami (eye illness),"" and it came to be believed that the temple had the power to heal illnesses of the eyes. In this day and age when we use and abuse our eyes extensively, many parents come here with their children to pray for eye health."

    A nice, if brief, stop while on the edge of Gion. You’ll likely walk by it and why not stop in? The temple is for children and those with eye problems - or so they told us. It’s a typical Shinto...

  • Zenkyoan Temple
    rating-image
    3.5
    26 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Yamatooji Dori 4-jo Sagaru 4 Komatsucho 146

    If visiting the area east of Gion coming from the temples in the foothills you may trip on this one. I found it a different experience from the usual temples seen in Kyoto. this one is devoted to...

    Zenkyoan Temple image
  • Shoden Eigen-in Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Yamato Daicho Route Shijo Sub Le 4 Komatsu-machi 586
    This is one of Kenninji Temple's sub-temples in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. It's famous for its ties to Oda Yurakusai. Its tea house, Jo-an, has been designated a National Treasure. Normally it's not open to the public, but in spring and autumn they open the garden and visitors pour in during this period.
  • Reigenin Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Yamatoojishijou Shimuru Komatsucho 594 Spirituality Hospital
    This is one of Kenninji Temple's sub-temples in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. Usually it's only open to groups of 10 or more, but once a year they throw the doors open to everyone. Guests can tour their kanrotei garden with 400 sweet hydrangea bushes or try their hand at zazen meditation or copying Buddhist scripture.
  • Seiryuji Temple
    rating-image
    3.0
    12 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Shimogawaradori Torii-mae Sagaru 3 -chome Minamimachi 411

    There is an explanation panel, and I understand it is an old temple. But the gate was closed and there was a notice “don’t take picture “. Every temple has its own policy. So, I skipped this temple.

  • Sorinji Temple
    rating-image
    3.5
    5 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Washiocho 527

    高台寺方向から徒歩で進んで来るとたまたま通り掛かって参拝しました。 左程広い境内ではありませんでしたが、正面に本堂を配し、又、寺務所では御朱印対応も行われており一定の観光客の参拝もあるようでした。

  • Sonshiyoin
    rating-image
    3.5
    3 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Awataguchisanjoubouchou 70

    青蓮院傍の別院であるが、青蓮院から直接行くことは出来ないため、完全に隠れスポットとなっている。粟田山荘前の「元三大師」の石標が目印。 高台にあるため眺望は良いが、境内は狭く本堂以外は何もない。 境内奥に、青蓮院飛び地境内である山上の将軍塚青龍殿へと続く道がある。

  • Joanji Temple
    rating-image
    3.0
    2 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Higashi Oji 3-jo Sagaru Minami Saikaishicho 424

    敷地は狭いです。入山して右側にお墓が二基、曇りの天気ということも有りますが薄暗くなんとなく気味悪く感じました。肝試しに出てきそうなお寺です。

  • Kongoji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Gokencho 124
  • Anyoji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Kyoto-shi Sakyo-ku Awataguchiyamashitacho 8
  • Kushimaturi
    Travel / Tourism
    Kyoto Pref. Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Shimobentenchou Climb Higashioji Matsubara
Kyoto Around Gion
Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Temple Temple

Kyoto Areas

around-area-map

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.

Kyoto

    Kyoto Photo Album

    banner_photo

    Best of Kyoto

    Search by Region

    Browse Interests