Temple Spots in Kyoto Area

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Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Shojiji Temple

4.0

39 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Nishikyou-ku Oharanominamikasugachou 1194

A Buddhist temple located in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City famed since ancient times for its beautiful cherry trees. The temple was founded in 679 by devotees of the ascetic En no Gyoja on the orders of Emperor Tenmu in 679. The temple houses numerous Important Cultural Properties, including an 85.1 centimeter tall standing figure of Bhaisajyaguru (the temple’s principal object of worship); another, minutely detailed 9.1 centimeter tall figure of Bhaisajyaguru made of cedar (and a figure within a figure), and three meter tall figures of the two Deva kings. Visitors can also enjoy viewing rare architectural examples up close.

Shojiji is known as a place where Saigyo, a famous poet at the beginning of Kamakura Period, entered the Buddhist priesthood. There is a cherry tree, which is associated with him, and so it is called...
Fundain Temple (Sesshuji Temple)

4.0

38 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Honmachi 15-803

A Rinzai Buddhist temple located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City and one of the Tofukuji Temple’s sub-temples. The temple’s traditional dry landscape garden, said to have been created by Sesshu Toyo, has been famously depicted in ink paintings and the temple is accordingly also known as the “Sesshu Temple.” The temple was founded in the Genko period (1321–1324) by Ichijo Uchitsune to memorialize his father, but after it was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in the Genroku period (1688–1704) by Ichijo Kaneteru. Portions of the garden were destroyed in repeated fires and eventually restored by Mirei Shigemori in 1939. The southern “Crane and Tortoise” garden features an elegant representation of the islands of Tsurushima and Kameshima (Crane Island and Tortoise Island) floating in a “sea” of moss.

東福寺の塔頭。観光客が少なめで、静かに庭園を楽しめました。襖絵もじっくりと鑑賞。恵観ゆかりの茶室も素敵でした。また訪問します。
Konpukuji Temple

3.5

43 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ichijoujisaikatachou 20

This is a temple connected to Yosa Buson, one of the representative haiku poets of the Edo period. Highlights of the grounds include the monument, portrait and grave of the poet. Matsuo Basho is said to have stayed here, and there is indeed a thatched hut named Basho-an. This was restored by Yosa Buson, who idolized Basho. The garden’s satsuki azaleas in full bloom in early summer is a beautiful sight.

I was lucky enough to have a chance to visit Shugaku-in Villa. On the occasion, I visited some temples around the villa, and Konpuku-ji Temple was one of them. As other visitors have already...
Sokujo-in Temple

4.0

38 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Sennyujiyamanouchichou 28

Sokujo-in Temple is a Shingon temple located in Sennyuji-Yamauchi-cho in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward, dedicated to the Buddha Amida Nyorai, and it possesses a number of artworks that have been designated National Important Cultural Properties. It is famous as the temple of the family of the 13th century samurai Nasu no Yoichi, and the local people affectionately call it Nasu no Yoichi-san.

会社の発展を願い、願いが叶うためにご祈祷をして頂きました。幻想的な雰囲気の中で非日常的な体験が出来ました。また住職の方のご対応も凄く丁寧でした。今回の1回だけでなく、より会社の発展を願い毎年お願いしたいと思います。
Senbon Enmado Injoji Temple

3.5

25 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City, Kyoto City, Senjodori, Sanzanjo Kamiru Emamaecho 34

This temple is in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. It is affiliated with the Shingon sect of Mt. Koya, and has EnmaHoo as its principle image, commonly called the SenbonEnmado. In February, during the SetsubunFestival, the temple has a konnyaku potato boil for warding off misfortune, and hosts the senbonenmado Noh kyogen comedy theater in May. At the management office one can purchase the enmasamanoomekoboshi rice crackers.

千本ゑんま堂は、光明山歓喜院引接寺が正式名称です。本日は、お精霊迎えに行きました。京都では旧盆のこの日(2022年8月7日...
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...
Kanimanji Temple

4.5

22 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kidugawashi Yamashirochoukabata Hama 36

Kanimanji is a temple of the Chisan branch of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, located in the city of Kizugawa in Kyoto Prefecture. The statue of the seated Buddha Shaka Nyorai Zazo enshrined there has been designated a National Treasure. It is famous as the site of a medieval folk tale, The Crab's Show of Gratitude, collected in the 12th-century anthology Konjaku Monogatari. Every year in April, an event called The Memorial Service for Crabs attracts large numbers of visitors.

日本国内で数少ない白鳳時代の《銅造釈迦如来坐像（国宝、像高：2.4...
Kaikoji Temple

4.0

35 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Sennyujiyamanouchicho 29

"This temple is a sub-temple of Sennyuji Temple, the head temple of the Sennyuji sect of Shingon Buddhism. It was also a mortuary temple of the imperial family. Established in 1223, the ancient temple venerates the Joroku Shakanoryaizo, a 10-meter-tall statue of Gautama Buddha, which survived the fires of the Onin War, as its principle object of worship. Legend has it the substance that appears to be running from the neck of the statue is a bloodstain from when the statue took the place of Emperor Go-Mizunoo to protect him from an assassination attempt while he slept. Based on this legend, the statue became revered as the ""migawari no oshakasama,"" meaning ""the substitute Bhudda."" The faithful believe that it takes the place of people to protect them from evil and that it cures sicknesses of the neck and above. Even today the statue is affectionately called Joroku-san, which means ""a large Buddha statue."""

Its right off the Tofukuji train stop on either the JR line or the Keihan line..smaller than your usually Kyoto temples but its definitely s place to go see if you got time in your hands and a lot...
Gankeiji Temple

3.5

17 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Yamashina-ku Kitakazankawarachou 13

This Tendai Buddhist temple is in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City. Also called Kazan-ji temple for its ties to Emperor Kazan, it enshrines the deity Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai. Many come here to worship as it's an additional temple on theSaigoku Sanjusankasho (33temples of Kansai's Kannon pilgrimage). They hold a gathering to copy Buddhist sutras by hand on the 8th of every month.

（がんけいじ）と言います。この寺院は、花山天皇が出家したお寺で、西国三十三か所巡礼の番外札所です。山門は中国風ですが、天台宗です。写経会を、毎月8日の9:00-16:00に写経会をしておられます。
Kurodani, Konkai-Komyoji Temple

3.5

3 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Kurodanichou 121

A Jyodo Buddhist temple located in the Kurodani-cho area of Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple is popularly known as Kurodani-san. It is also one of the seven head temples of the Jyodo sect and one of the four located in Kyoto. The temple is comprised of 18 sub temple buildings in addition to primary buildings such as the Amitabha Hall, Miei-do Hall, and three-story pagoda. The pagoda, a designated Important Cultural Property, was built in 1634 to memorialize Tokugawa Hidetada. The grounds also host a memorial pillar of the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu’s mother, Ogoh erected by Iemitsu’s wet nurse Lady Kasuga. Highlights include temple treasures such as the Image of Amitabha Crossing the Mountains and Image of Hell and the Pure Land, Important Cultural Properties, as well as a wooden figure of the thousand armed Kannon.

御影堂を正面に見ると右手方向に立つお堂でした。広い境内に立つだけあって、お堂とは云いながら立派な建築物と云えそうでした。猶、境内の主だった建物にはそれぞれ説明板が立ち、し由来が分かるようになっていました。
Hojuji Temple

3.5

32 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku

It is a small temple near Sanjusangendo. Its gate like a Chinese temple is remarkable. This place used to be a palace of Emperor Emeritus Goshirakawa. His mausoleum is just behind this temple.
Mt. Jishu Zuisen-ji Temple

4.0

29 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Nakagyo-ku Kiyamachi Dori Sanjo Sagaru Ishiyacho 114-1

三条通から直ぐの場所に立つ浄土宗西山禅林寺派の寺院でした。車を停められると出入りにも苦労する程狭い山門の奥が境内となっていましたが、その境内も窮屈な印象を受け本堂との距離も近いものがありました。境内に豊臣秀次墓で知られているようで観光客の姿も見受けられました。
Kasagi Temple

4.0

16 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Souraku-gun Kasagicho Kasagi Kasagiyama 29

笠置駅から歩いて小一時間くらいです。なんと言っても、磨崖弥勒如来像は圧巻。他の仏像を全て包摂していると言ってもいいくらいです。境内と言っていいのか、実質は笠置山ピクニックかも知れませんが。奇岩の数々には、圧倒されます。
Chugen-ji Temple (Meyami Jizo)

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...
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.
Manshuin Temple (Takenouchi Monzeki )

4.0

12 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ichijoujitakenouchichou 42

A Tendai Buddhist temple located in the Ichijo-ji area of Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. Founded by the priest Zesan, the temple’s principle object of worship is a figure of Amitabha. The Manshu-in Temple is a monzeki temple (a temple once ran by a priest of noble lineage) and is also called the Takenouchi Monzeki Temple. Together with the Shoren-in, Sanzen-in Temple (Kaiji Monzeki Temple), Myoho-in Temple, and Bishamon-do Monzeki Temple, it is one of the five Tendai monzeki temples. The temple’s richly colored image of Acala and copy of the ancient Kokin Wakashu poetry anthology are designated National Treasures. Its large and small studies are designated Important Cultural Properties. The dry landscape garden (a Place of Scenic Beauty) which extends in front of the studies is said to have been created by Kobori Enshu and is particularly beautiful in May when the Kirishima azaleas come in bloom, as well as in November when the autumn foliage is at its peak.

[曼殊院]の[宸殿]が 2022年10月31日に再建し [宸殿]前庭《盲亀浮木之庭》の整備完了を記念し《秘仏黄不動明王像（国宝）》及び4年間かけ行われた《秘仏黄不動明王像》の模写が奉納されており 2つの《秘仏黄不動明王像右側：オリシナル左側：レプリカ》を一度に鑑賞出来ることを知り 5月23日訪問しました。公開期間は 2023年5月13日-6月30日迄となっておりこの公開期間以降は...
Myorenji

4.0

25 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Kamigyo-ku Myorenjimaecho 875

Small off beaten path with beautiful rock gardens. Might be better to go with a Japanese speaker, as they give you a short guided tour w video that’s all in Japanese. Famous for a kind of cherry...
Jizo-in Temple (Tsubaki-dera Temple)

3.5

29 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Kita-ku Taishogunkawabatacho 2

An old temple nicknamed Tsubaki-dera Temple. It is said to have originated when a Buddhist monk Gyoki built a temple beside Koya-ike Pond in Settsu at the request of Emperor Shomu in 726 and called it Jizo-in Temple. After being moved to the southern part of Mt. Kasayama in the Heian period (794-1185), it was once burned down in the battle of Uchino that took place in 1391, but a temporary hall was erected by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and in 1589, it was moved to its current location by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The 120-year-old five-color, double-flowered chiri-tsubaki tree in front of the main hall is a rare old camellia tree with flowers of various shades of red, white, peach, etc., on a single tree, and the petals shed one by one. It originates from a camellia tree donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony. There are many sights to see in the precincts of the temple, including the graves of Amanoya Rihei, who is said to have supported the raid of Ako Roshi (lordless samurai of Ako domain) on the temple, and Yohantei Hajin, the teacher of the haiku poet Yosa Buson.

五色八重散椿で有名です。この椿はもともと豊臣秀吉が天正15年(1587年)に北野大茶会を催した際お世話になったお礼にと地蔵院に献木されたものだそうです。しかし椿のシーズンでもないので、友人は「キリシタンの墓」を興味深く眺めていました。ちなみに浄土宗の寺院でもあります。
Hokyoji Temple (Doll Temple)

4.0

25 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku Teruno Uchotoru Horikawa Higashiro Hakotachi 547

This Zen temple in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City honors deities like the bodhisattva Kannon. Also known as The Doll Temple, it houses an array of dolls, including those of the Emperor Komei. Usually it's not open to the public, however there's a doll exhibition every spring and autumn when visitors pour in.

It is a Monzeki temple (a temple related to the imperial family), which is located at Horikawa Teranouchi. The entrance gate is very imposing, but on the day I was there it was not open to public.
Zenkyoan Temple

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...

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.