Temple Spots in Arashiyama / Sagano / Takao Area

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Arashiyama / Sagano / Takao

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Tenryu-ji Temple

4.5

17 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagatenryujisusukinobabachou 68

The head temple of Rinzai Tenryuji Buddhsim. The temple is one of the foremost sightseeing locations in the Saga Arashiyama area. The temple was founded in 1339 by Ashikaga Takauji to memorialize Emperor Go-Daigo. The temple was founded as the first of the five Kyoto Gozan premier temples and the spacious grounds encompassed over 150 sub-temples, but these were all lost in a series of later fires. The various temple buildings standing today were reconstructed in the Meiji period; the abbot’s chamber enshrines a seated figure of Gautama Buddha created in the Fujiwara period. The temple’s circular garden, built around a central pond, is a designated Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty and makes use of Mt. Arashiyama and Mt. Kameyama in the background. The garden looks the same as it did approximately 700 years ago when it was first created by Muso Kokushi.

Walking quietly through these gardens can lead you to a deep need for meditation! The gardens are incredibly intricate and I expect, offer something different in each season. This is the kind of...
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

4.5

291 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagatorimotofukatanichou 2-5

A Tendai Buddhist temple located in Sagano in Kyoto Prefecture that has attracted many faithful since the Heian period (794–1185) for providing protection against misfortune. The temple gained its name, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, from the priest Senkan, who was ordered to restore the temple after it was damaged by the flooding of the Kamo River and who constantly intoned the nenbutsu prayer. The temple’s principle object of worship is a thousand-armed figure of Kannon warding away evil. The grounds are filled with 1,200 arhat figures, each with a differing expression. Surrounded by Japanese irises in spring and autumn foliage in fall, the sight of these friendly statues brings comfort to visitors.

Located a bit away from the center of Arashiyama, maybe 15-20 minutes walk, but it is totally worth it. Such a calm place, without crowds of tourists.
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...
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...
Nison-in Temple

4.0

164 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Saganisoninmonzenchoujinchou 27

A Tendai Buddhist temple located in the Sagano area of Ukyo Ward in Kyoto City. The temple is called the Nison-in, meaning “Hall of Two Buddhas,” because its principle objects of worship are two standing figures of Gautama Buddha and Amitabha. The temple is said to have been founded by the priest Ennin at the behest of Emperor Saga during the early Heian period. In addition to the main temple nave, the grounds are dotted with the graves of court nobles and distinguished families. Famed for its autumn foliage, the temple is visited by numerous worshipers each year in fall. The temple path extending from the main gate, once the Yakuimon gate at Fushimi Castle that was moved here, is nicknamed the “Autumn Foliage Horse Riding Grounds” on account of the beauty of the scenery during the season.

Nison-in is known as the place where Fujiwarano Teika redacted “Hyakunin Isshu”, an anthology of traditional Japanese poem. In the premises of the temple, there are graves of some celebrities such as...
Hogon-in Temple

4.5

167 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Saga Tenryuji Susukino Baba-cho, 68

A sub temple of the Rinzai Tenryu-ji Buddhist Tenryu-ji Temple located in the Arashiyama area in Kyoto City. The temple’s spectacular garden incorporates the surrounding scenery of Arashiyama. A traditional circular strolling garden built around a central pond and arrayed with huge boulders such as “Shishi-iwa (Lion-Dog Rock),” the garden was even included in the Edo period Miyako rinsen meisho zue, a publication which noted various famous sights and locations of scenic beauty in Kyoto. The garden is only opened to the general public on special days in spring and autumn. At night, the garden is lit up in a manner befitting the wondrous scenery of this historical garden.

We have visited here twice before for autumn colors. Each time the temple does not disappoint. If you walk along the temple wall before entering you can see the tree tops and gauge if the colors...
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...
Rokuo-in Temple

4.0

51 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Ukyo-ku Sagakitaboricho 24

This temple was founded as a sub-temple of Hodoji Temple by monk Fumyo Kokushi in 1379 under orders from Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The temple is home to many Important Cultural Properties of Japan and is famous for the expansive Japanese rock garden that stretches between the pathways tying the temple halls together. The straight road approaching the temple is known for its beautiful autumn colors and is relatively quiet in comparison to the rest of Arashiyama.

The temple is called the Golden Pavilion as it has two floors covered with gold foil on lacquer. Theres a tea house, the temple and some other buildings among the wooded, manicured area. An...
Saimyōji Temple

4.0

63 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Umegahata Makio Town 1

A Buddhist temple famed for its autumn foliage. The temple was built by the priest Chisen, a disciple of the great Kukai, in the Tencho period (824–834). It is believed that the current temple nave was rebuilt with a donation from Keishoin, the mother of the fifth shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. The temple’s principal object of worship, a standing wooden figure of Gautama Buddha (a registered Important Cultural Property) housed in the temple nave, is just 51 centimeters high and is believed to have been modeled after the great priest Myoe of the Kosanji Temple. The standing figure of the thousand armed Kannon (another Important Cultural Property) standing at his side was carved in the Heian period is notable for its delicate facial features.

高尾三山の一つ。世間的な知名度は、高山寺や神護寺に及びませんが、紅葉の美しさには目を見張るものがあります。広すぎない境内に色とりどりの紅葉がギュッと詰まっています。朱色の橋とも調和し、心が洗われました。京都の中では、早めに色付くこちらの紅葉は、タイミングが合えば、絶対におすすめです。 Must see Momoji red leaves! Most beautiful yet least...
Jikisian Temple

4.5

35 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Kitasagakitanodanchou 3

"This temple is located in Kitasaga Kitanodan-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City. It started as a thatched hut built in 1646 by the Rinzai monk Dokusho Shoen. The main hall surrounded by a bamboo grove has a notebook called ""Omoidekusa"" where worshipers write out their thoughts, and over 5,000 books have been filled over 50 years."

毎年の紅葉の時期、一年の無事を感謝しに訪れていました。まさかの拝観中止になっていました。詳しい事情は分かりませんが、コロナの影響と記されてました。来年の10月迄は目処が立たないとのこと、思い出草と言う、拝観者が色んな思いを記すノートがあります。辛い想いや願いを記している方が多く、私と同じ様に毎年の訪れている方も多い様です。今回も同じ様に拝観中止を知らずに訪れた方々が、名残惜しそうに佇んでいま...
Joshokoji Temple

4.5

21 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Keihokuidochou Maruyama 14-6

This temple is in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. It was founded by Emperor Kogon in 1362. Shakanyorai is the principal object of worship, and the temple's wooden Amitabha Nyorai and its two wakiji images have been designated important cultural assets. Its kokonoe cherry tree is a nationally designated Natural Monument, and the precincts are designated as a Kyoto Prefecture Historic Site. It's a popular spot to view cherry blossoms in spring.

まぁ、こんなもんでしょうね。観光客は多いが民家に仏像が飾ってあると云う雰囲気で、お寺と云う厳粛さや威厳は感じられなかった。桜の名所とかで連れて行かれたんだが、桜の季節はとっくに済んでおり、桜の木が佇んでいる程度。国の天然記念物の「九重桜」、京都御所から株分けしたと云われている「左近の桜」、一重と八重の桜が同じ木に花を付けると云われる「御車返しの桜」＝時の法皇が余りの美しさに一度行き過ぎたが、牛車を...
Jojakko-ji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagaogurayamaogurachou 3

A temple in Sagano, Kyoto City located midway up Mt. Ogurayama which was featured in the Hyakunin Isshu collection of poetry. The temple was founded in 1596 by monk Nisshin, the head priest of Honkoku-ji Temple, the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. The main hall is a former part of Fushimi Castle that was reconstructed on site. The gate flanked by carvings known as Unkei statues of the two Deva Kings was the former south gate of the reception hall at Honkoku-ji Temple which was moved to this location. The temple grounds which spread across Mt. Ogurayama are known for beautiful autumn colors, especially around the two-story cypress thatched pagoda. The temple offers an amazing view over the Kyoto cityscape.
Toganoosan Kosanji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Umegahata Togeno-cho 8

This temple was rebuilt in the early 13th Century by the priest Myoe. The zen monk Eisai cultivated the seeds of the tea he brought back to Japan from the Chinese Song dynasty, and those seeds were passed on to Uji which would become famous as the birthplace of tea. The temple holds a number of National Treasures and Important National Cultural Properties including the Choju Jinbutsu Giga (caricatures of frolicking birds, animals and humans).
Giouji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagatorimotokozakachou 32

A Shingon Daikaku-ji Buddhist temple located in Ukyo Ward in Kyoto City. Known as the “Covenant of Blighted Love,” it even appears in the ancient epic, The Tale of the Heike. Legend has it that Gio, a dancing girl who lost the love of military leader Taira no Kiyomori to a woman named Hotoke-gozen, joined this temple as a nun together with her mother and younger sister. Thereafter, Hotoke-gozen was also welcomed into the temple, and the four quietly spent their remaining years here. The Soan, a thatched hut, houses the temple’s principle object of worship, a figure of Vairocana, as well as wooden figures of Taira no Kiyomori, Gio, her younger sister Ginyo, her mother Toji, and Hotoke-gozen. The Hokyoin-to is said to mark the graves of Gio and Ginyo. The Yoshino Window in an anteroom of the Soan is famous for casting a rainbow colored image.
Daikakuji temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagaosawachou 4

Located in the Saga area of Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, this is the head temple of the Shingon Daikaku-ji school of Buddhism. The temple’s principle object of worship is five figures of the great wisdom kings centering around Acala. The temple was founded by Emperor Saga. A former villa that belonged to Emperor Saga which was renovated into a temple, the grounds contain many imperial buildings that were moved here. The strikingly beautiful screen paintings in the Botan-no-Ma and Kobai-no-Ma rooms in the Shinden hall (an Important Cultural Property) were painted by Kano Sanraku. The temple is also located near Uzumasa, where many historical dramas are filmed, and the temple grounds themselves are also frequently used to shoot historical and other varieties of drama programs. As the birthplace of flower arrangement, the temple is also famous for being the head temple of the Saga Goryu school of flower arrangement.
Takiguchi-dera Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Ukyo-ku Sagakameyamacho 10-4

A small mountain temple in Sagano, Kyoto, said to have been built during the late Heian period. It ties in to a tale of tragic love in the Tale of the Heike as well as the general Nitta Yoshisada from the late Kamakura period. The thatched roof of the small main hall lends to the temple's peaceful atmosphere. Highlights include the temple garden, the entry walkway, and their twin wooden Yokobue statues.
Ususama myoo Dairyuji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Ukyo-ku Umegahatatakahanacho 37

This temple was built in 1586 to enshrine the purifying power of Ususama Myou as the city was wracked by an epidemic. It was formerly located in the geisha quarter in Nakagyo Ward and the women of the district came to worship at the temple. Praying at the shrine is said to help with recovery from feminine illnesses. The enshrined deity is also said to be the god of toilets.
Houkyouin Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagashakadoumonzenminamichuinchou 9

Hokyo-in Temple in Sagano got its name from the posthumous Buddhist name of Ashikaga Yoshiakira, the second shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. Nanboku-cho period military commander Kusunoki Masatsura is buried alongside Ashikaga Yoshiakira. With high repute as a place to see autumn changing leaves, the leaves wrapping and enveloping the cobblestones beneath is truly a sight to behold.
Daikakuji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Ukyo-ku Sagaosawacho 4
Kogenji Temple

4.0

23 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Ukyo-ku Sagatenryujisusukinobabacho 65

Though Kogenji is not as old and has no long history as other temples in Kyoto, it has a small but charming garden and landscape as well as painting on the wall in its way. Worth visit, just nest to...

Kyoto Arashiyama / Sagano / Takao

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Temple Temple

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.