Spots in Kyoto Area

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Category

Shisen-do Jozanji Temple

4.5

250 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ichijoujimonguchichou 27

Located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, this was once the site of a mountain villa built by Edo period literati Ishikawa Jozan for his retirement. It is a nationally designated Historic Site. Today, it is a Soto Buddhist temple that is also called the Jozan-ji. Jozan had the Shisen-do built at the age of 59. For the remaining 30 some years of his life, this great man of letters devoted his time to poetry, calligraphy, and gardening, to the exclusion of even sleeping and eating. The Shisen-do preserves a great number of his works and calligraphy and, in addition to a standing exhibition, the temple a special three day exhibition starting from May 23 each year, the anniversary of Jozan’s death. The temple’s garden was designed by Jozan himself, a renowned gardener, and is particularly famous for its satsuki azaleas in spring and fall foliage in autumn. It is said that the first shishi-odoshi was created here. The shishi-odoshi is a bamboo tube balanced on a pivot which slowly fills with water until it tips over, draining the water and falling back into position with a “plonk” noise. Shishi-odoshi are practical – their sound scares away deer and wild boars that might eat garden plants – but their sound also accentuates the silence of a garden, and it is said Jozan loved the sound they made.

The garden of Shisen-do is simply out of this world. I would rank it without hesitation to the top 5 of Kyoto gardens:not only has it an impeccable composition, it is also fundamentally different...
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...
Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine

4.0

243 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nakagyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Shinkyogoku communication Nishikikoji

A Shinto shrine located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City dedicated to the Tenman-Tenjin (Sugawara no Michizane). The shrine is located on the eastern edge of Nishiki Market, considered the “Kitchen of Kyoto,” and attracts worshipers seeking to be blessed by the god of wisdom, scholarship, and business acumen, as well as good luck, warding from evil, and prevention of disaster. There is a mikuji (fortune slip) vending machine called Karakuri mikuji in front of the shrine office – insert a coin and select the type of fortune you would like to receive and the lion-dog statue in the machine will dance to kagura music until your slip is issued. The shrine’s ground span some 660 square meters and contain a spring called the Nishiki no Mizu whose waters remain a cool 18 degrees Celsius even in the middle of summer; many visitors come here just to taste these famous Kyoto waters.

This small shrine in the shopping district of Kyoto is hard to miss if youre on the shopping trail. It is a very nicely maintained small shrine just of Shinkyogoku.
Honno-ji Temple

3.5

189 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Nakagyo-ku Teramachi-dori Oimachiro Down Shimotsunagae-cho 522

Located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, this is the head temple of Hokke Honmon Buddhism. The temple is famous as being the site where Oda Nobunaga was defeated by Akechi Mitsuhide. The temple was originally located at Horigawa Shijo, but was rebuilt at its current location by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after the Oda Nobunaga incident. A memorial tower stands on the grounds that is believed to have once housed Nobunaga’s longsword. In memory of the Nobunaga incident (June in 1582), the Nobunaga Festival is held each year at the temple on the first Saturday and Sunday of June.

We had a quick look round this historic temple, located just off the shopping streets! To be honest, its nothing amazing, but still worth a quick look if youre in the area.
Umekoji Park

4.0

135 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Shimogyou-ku Kankijichou 56-3

A park located on the former site of the Japan Freight Railway Company Umekoji Station that was built to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of the foundation of Heiankyo, the ancient capital of Japan. The parks spacious 13.7 hectare grounds include a lawn surrounded by flowers and trees, a riverbed where families can play in the shallow waters, and a forest designed to recreate an animal biotope. The park is also used for a variety of events. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, a nostalgic street car operates in the park between the Hazesaku Yume and Shiden plazas. Kyoto’s first aquarium was opened in the park in 2012, and one of the largest railroad museums in Japan was also opened here in 2016. Walk 15 minutes west from Kyoto Station.

This is surely a beautiful and serene park in Kyoto. On our way to the Railway Museum (see my review earlier for this place too), we passed by this park. Although it was 12.30pm, it wasnt sunny or...
Hosen-in Temple

4.5

199 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Oharashourininchou 187

A Buddhist temple located in Oharashorinin-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. One of the three Tendai Monzeki temples, it stands on the road approaching the Sanzen-in Temple. The temple’s beautiful “framed garden” is powerful and lush, with a 300 year old sal tree and a 700 year old Japanese white pine which has been designated a Natural Monument by the city of Kyoto. Visitors can pass through a tatami room with a view of the white pine and exchange a ticket provided at the grounds entrance to receive a cup of matcha green tea and an original temple confection.

Enjoyed szopping here...... nice and a bit off the beaten tracck with few visitors and a rather comparable small size
Matsunoo Taisha

4.0

183 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Nishikyou-ku Arashiyamamiyamachi 3

The oldest Shinto shrine in Kyoto and located in Nishikyo Ward. Seated at the foot of Mt. Matsuo, the shrine’s object of worship, the distinctive Muromachi period (1333–1568) architecture of the main shrine building is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The mountain is seen as the god of sake and has attracted followers accordingly since the Middle Ages; the shrine’s mikoshi hall is stacked high with sake barrels. The waters of the shrine’s Kame-no-I (Turtle Well) are also famed for giving health, long life, and revitalization, and sake brewers, producers, and salespeople from around the country still come here to bring some of the water home with them.

Matsuo Taisha is one of the oldest shrine, and its God is a protector of Sake brewing. I had visited long time ago, but this time I happened to pass nearby, so I paid a visit. As the new year...
Zuiganzan Enkouji Temple

4.5

196 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ichijoujikotanichou 13

A Rinzai Nanzen-ji Buddhist temple located in the Ichijo-ji area of Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple was erected in 1601 by Sanyo Genkitsu (Kanshitsu), Zen priest and ninth head of the Ashikaga Gakko school, who was asked to do so by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to promote education and learning in the nation. The beauty of the temple’s garden, a traditional strolling garden built around a central pond, is said to have been much praised by ancient people, and is still a must-see today. The garden is filled with sights, including a traditional Suikinkutsu (ceramic pot under the ground) said to purify the soul with the clear sound of the water dripping into it; “Honryutei,” a dry landscape garden; and the “Jyu-gyu no niwa” Garden, famed for its moss and autumn foliage. The temple was also the site where the Fushimi-ban, one of Japan’s first printed books, was created, and the roughly 50 thousand wooden printing type used to make the book kept at the temple are designated an Important Cultural Property as Japan’s oldest printed type.

Its a hidden gem. You need to take the metro, a bus and walk for 15-20min to get there. But its worth. Tranquility, serenity.. and very small statues, very cute. They close at 5pm (in July)
Entoku-in Temple

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...
Genkoan

4.5

176 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

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.

A secluded Zen temple in Takagamine, Kita Ward, Kyoto City. The Window of Enlightenment and Window of Lostness and Blood Ceiling are the highlights here. In the fall, when you can enjoy the...
Nishijin Textile Center

3.5

173 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto prefecture Kyoto city Kamigyo-ku Horikawa dori Imadegawa south entrance west side

This meeting hall in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture introduces the charm of Japanese clothing, especially Nishijin silk fabrics, and displays related items. The third floor has a show stage on which they hold the extravagant Kimono Show each hour. With the workshops allowing one to watch artisans up close and the reservation handmaking experience activities, there are facilities for one to watch, sow and experience while learning and having fun. There are also Japanese trinkets on sale including clothing sundries and mufflers made of pure Japan-produced silk.

My wife was a little disappointed. She was hoping for fabric she couldnt get at home in Australia. Nothing extraordinary.
Shogunzuka Seiryu-den Temple

4.0

159 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Yamashina-ku Zushiokukachouchou 28

When Emperor Kanmu embarked on the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo, he buried a 2.5-meter tall clay statue of a shogun to protect the capital in a mound and prayed for the capital’s security, which is the origin of the name Shogunzuka. The okutono of the Daigomado’s Seiryuden which was built in 2014 enshrines the National Treasure Aofudo, and in front of this is an elaborate reproduction which has been created for worship. On the premises is a large observatory made of wood that is 4.6 times the size of Kiyomizudera Temple’s platform which allows visitors to enjoy a large panoramic view of Kyoto’s cityscape.

Went early morning, and it was amazing! Nobody was there, and I could enjoy a silent view of the city. But what amazed me was being the only one sitting in front of the VERY beautiful painting of Ao...
Shokoku-ji Temple

4.0

140 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Kamigyo-ku Imadegawa communication Karasuma HigashiIri

The head temple of the Rinzai Shokoku-ji school of Buddhism and located in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, it was founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. A Zen temple connected to the Ashikaga shogunate clan and the Fushimi-no-miya and Katsura-no-miya imperial family branches, it is considered the second of the five most important temples in Kyoto. The temple was in charge of managing Zen temples on the mountain and played a central role in the administration of Zen Buddhism, but has experienced repeated destruction and rebuilding due to fires and lightening. The Nakiryu (Crying Dragon) painted by Kano Mitsunobu on the ceiling of the Hatto, lecture hall (an Important Cultural Property) was donated by Toyotomi Hideyori (1593–1615).

Just my kind of place, away from the pressing crowds. I hired a bicycle to get to this one and there was hardly anyone there when I visited. Obviously a very important place at some point in time but...
Yoshimine-dera Temple

4.5

139 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Nishikyou-ku Oharanoshiochou 1372

A Buddhist temple located in the Oharano area of Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple was founded in 1029 by the priest Gensan. The temple is connected to the fifth Tokugawa shogun Tsunayoshi’s mother Keishoin; the hanging bell tower was donated by her to ward evil away from Tsunayoshi. The grounds, located halfway up a mountain, are some 99 thousand square meters in size. Visitors can enjoy some of Kyoto’s greatest views of the city and Mt. Hiei while strolling the grounds, as well as seasonal flowers and plants. In spring, the temple boasts weeping, mountain, and Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms which dye the grounds pink. One weeping cherry on the ground is over 300 years old and is said to have been planted by Keishoin.

Because of its location, it is not as known as Kiyomizudera or Kinkakuji, but in my opinion Yoshimine-dera is certainly one of a must-see temple in Kyoto. On a mountainside there are many small...
Koryuji Temple

4.5

193 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Uzumasahachiokachou 32

This temple was built in 603 by Hata no Kawakatsu, with its main object of worship being a statue of Buddha received from Shotoku Taishi. As the oldest temple in Kyoto, it also possesses a number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. Among these, the most famous is the Seated Maitreya statue said to be the most beautiful in all of Japan. It is a Buddhist statue of the Asuka period and is distinctive for its calm countenance and “archaic smile.” October’s “Ushi Matsuri” is one of Kyoto’s three big unusual festivals.

Stumbled upon this temple. I was impressed by the outer garden. Beautiful and zen. And I thought it would be similar behind the ticketed gates. 800Y I was wrong. It only let into the exhibition hall...
Haradanien

4.5

107 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

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.

My wife and I visited March 31, 2023, just as this private garden cherry blossoms were reaching full bloom as well as other flowering plants. Wow! A few hours here was at the top of our visit to...
Togetsukyo Bridge

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Ukyo-ku Arashiyama

This bridge with a total length of 155 meters spanning the Katsuragawa River offers a vantage point to see the fall foliage of Arashiyama. The bridge is said to have been started by the Jowa-period (834–848) monk Dosho, and the bridge in the current location was built by Suminokura Ryoui in the early Edo period. Togetsukyo Bridge’s name (meaning “the bridge of the passing moon”) is said to have come about when Emperor Kameyama saw a moon move above the bridge and remarked that, “It looks as if the clear moon were walking over the bridge.” The bridge is full of elegance which blends into the landscape of Arashiyama.
Jishu-jinja Shrine

4.0

183 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Kiyomizu 1-317

A Shinto shrine located just to the north of the main sanctuary in the Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto that is popular with young women and couples due to its dedication to a god of marriage. There are two love fortune-telling stones located 10 meters apart from each other on the grounds and it is said one will achieve true love if one is able to reach one stone from the other while your eyes are closed. The main shrine, front shrine, and main gate are nationally designated Important Cultural Properties. In 1994, due to certain historical details, it was registered as part of the Kiyomizu-dera Temple under the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site. The temple is also home to the famous Jishu Cherry, so beautiful it is said Emperor Saga turned his carriage around three times to view it again and also seen as the origin of the Japanese people’s love of cherry blossoms.

This is the best! I have been there 8 years ago and my wish came true.Thank God! I visited there again and the staff are nice. Atmosphere is good! you must try the Love stone :P
Byodoin Museum Hoshokan

4.5

234 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Uji-shi Uji Renge 116 (Byodoin Keidai)

This museum was opened in 2001 to preserve the collection from the former treasure house, which had deteriorated. The garden is designated as a famous historic landmark, and the building exterior is designed to blend perfectly with it, with special features like using natural lighting in the interior. In addition to being a registered National and Uji City Important Cultural Asset, it also displays a collection of Heian period onigawara gargoyle roof tiles excavated from archaeological sites.

A visit to the museum comes with the entrance price when visiting Byodoin Temple. I found the museum to be a great addition! The museum was pretty large with a lot of great artifacts and information...
Bishamon-do Temple

4.5

128 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Yamashina-ku Anshuinariyamachou 18

A Tendai Buddhist temple in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City. The principle object of worship is a figure of Vaisravana, seen as one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, and the temple is believed to provide aid with achieving thriving business and safety and peace in the household. The temple was originally the Izumo-dera Temple, which was founded by the priest Gyoki at the request of Emperor Monmu in 703. After much hardship caused by repeated wars, the temple was eventually rebuilt in Yamashina. The “moving screen paintings” created by Kano Masunobu which decorate the Shinden hall are famous and make skillful use of reverse perspective to make it seem as if the viewer is seeing them on center regardless of the angle. Located at the foot of a hillside overlooking the Yamashina Basin, the temple is a well-known spot in Kyoto for viewing cherry blossoms in spring and fall foliage in autumn.

This place is not very popular among tourist, unlike Kinkakuji which is known by everybody. And that also the reason I choose to visit this temple. After visit other popular temples crowded with...

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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.