Around Kinkaku-ji

Top Things to do

• Rokuon-ji Temple (Kinkaku-ji Temple)

  4.5

  16997 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Kinkakujichou 1

  This temple began when third generation shogun of the Muromachi shogunate Ashikaga Yoshimitsu inherited the Saionji family's mountain villa and called the villa “Kitayamadono.” After his death it was changed into a Zen temple named “Rokuonji.” The reliquary hall is a three-story building shining beautifully in gold and looks pretty reflected in the Kyokoike (mirror pond). This brilliant architecture was a symbol of Kitayama culture but burned down in a 1950 fire, then was rebuilt in 1955. In 1994 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Kamo-wake ikazuchi Jinja (Kamigamo-jinja Shrine)

  4.5

  604 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Kamigamomotoyama 339

  This shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, enshrines the patron god of the Kamo clan. It is said the shrine was founded in 678 when the god Kamowakeikazuchi no Okami descended to the foot of Mt. Kamosan during the reign of Emperor Jimmu. The god is said to protect against misfortune, grant good fortune, victory in battle, and protect the power industry. The main hall and temporary shrine are both National Treasures and were last rebuilt in 1863 while the 34 worship halls rebuilt in 1628 are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. On May 15th they hold the Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto's three largest festivals, and many people come to watch the procession which is put on in Heian-period costumes.

• Imamiya-jinja Shrine

  4.0

  206 Reviews

  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.

• Hirano-Jinja

  4.0

  202 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Hiranomiyamotochou 1

  A Shinto shrine located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City. The shrine is said to have been founded in 794 when a deity was moved here close to the palace in accordance with the relocation of the capital ordered by Emperor Kammu. The current main building was built in the Kan-ei period (1624–1644) according to the Hirano-zukuri style and is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The front shrine, central and southern gates, and auxiliary shrine are designated Cultural Properties by the Kyoto Prefectural government. The shrine is renowned for its cherry trees and holds a Cherry Blossom Festival on April 10 as well as a concert and reception with cherry blossom tea (fee required).

• Genkoan

  4.5

  174 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Takagaminekitatakagaminechou 47

  A Soto school Buddhist temple located in the Takagamine area of Kita Ward, Kyoto City. The temple was founded in 1346 by the priest Tetto. The temple’s “Window of Bewilderment” and “Window of Enlightenment” are frequently presented in television programs and guidebooks. It is said that one will gain insights and be led further towards enlightenment by first gazing at the temple garden through the square Window of Bewilderment, representative of human life, and re-examining one’s life so far, then gazing through the round Window of Enlightenment, which expresses a Zen state of mind and represents the cosmos. The temple is also famous for the main hall’s “Bloody Ceiling,” which was once the floor of Fushimi Castle and vividly portrays the tragedy of the castle’s fall.

• Toji-in Temple

  4.0

  99 Reviews

  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.

• Haradanien

  4.5

  103 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Okitayamaharadaninuichou 36

  This private garden is located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City. A famous cherry blossom viewing spot, it is open to the public for a fee when they are in bloom from about March to April. There are also gallery seats inside, and you can enjoy a varied menu with items such as their Beni-shidare bento or Hanami bento lunch boxes that must be pre-ordered. In recent years, the garden is also open to the public in the autumn for the changing of the leaves.

• Kenkun-jinja Shrine

  3.5

  44 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Murasakinokitafunaokachou 49

  This is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oda Nobunaga, erected in 1869 by Emperor Meiji. On October 19th each year the Funaoka Taisai festival is held to commemorate Nobunaga’s entry to Kyoto, with offerings of Atsumori dancing and music. Since the shrine is on a small hill, it overlooks the beautiful scenery of Mt. Hiei and Mt. Daimonji. It also houses Important Cultural Assets including the Yoshimoto Samonji sword and the Shincho Koki (Biography of Oda Nobunaga).

• Koetsuji Temple

  4.0

  73 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kita-ku Takagaminekouetsuchou 29

  Cultural figure Koetsu Honami built a thatched house on this land at the beginning of the Edo period, which later became the Hokke Daimoku-do Hall. There are seven teahouses on the grounds, and in the autumn changing leaves season the cobblestone walkways swathed in red and yellow hues is a beautiful sight.