A visit to Kyoto should always be on your itinerary if you ever find yourself in Japan. The ancient capital of Japan might be a little bit slow-paced as compared to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but it reflects a huge part of the rich Japanese culture and history.

Kyoto’s biggest attractions would probably be the sheer number of traditional temples. Most of them were built decades ago, and they still retain a certain rustic charm. But more often than not, we do not have the luxury of time to visit every single temple there is in Kyoto.

If you simply cannot make up your mind as to which temple you should go to, let our list of 14 Temples You Need To Visit While In Kyoto help you decide.

Photo Credit: Asana Noboru

#1 NANZEN-JI TEMPLE

Nanzen-ji is a spacious temple situated at the base of Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountains. The compound includes several other sub-temples, and was first built in the 13th century.

The central temple grounds are generally free of charge, but separate fees apply for other temple buildings and sub-temples such as the Sanmon Gate, Hojo, Nanzenin and more.

Nanzen-ji Temple
86 Fukuchi-cho, Sakyo-ku
Japan 606-8435
Tel: +81 75 771 0365
Daily: 8.40am – 5pm (closes at 4.30pm from Dec to Feb)
Nearest Station: Keage

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#2 TOFUKU-JI TEMPLE

Tofuku-ji Temple is a large Zen temple, and is especially famed for its beauty in autumn, when hues of red, yellow and orange decorate the grounds.

Stretching across 100 metre, the Tsutenyo Bridge is often crowded from mid to late November, as many tourists would plan to visit during this period to catch the beautiful autumn leaves.

Tofuku-ji Temple
15-778 Honmahi, Higashiyama-ku
Japan 605-0981
Tel: +81 75 561 0087
Apr to Oct: 9am – 4.30pm
Nov to early Dec: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Early Dec to Mar: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Tofukuji

Photo Credit: Japan Visitor

#3 DAITOKU-JI TEMPLE

Situated in the northern regions of Kyoto, Daitokuji is the head temple of Rinzai Sect’s Daitokuji School of Japanese Zen Buddhism. The quarters are known for their wide variety of Zen gardens.

Founded in 1319, the temple’s main buildings include Butsuden Hall, Hatto Hall, and Hogo Residence, which are usually not open to public. Visitors can, however, view the interiors of Butsuden Hall from outside.

Daitoku-ji Temple
53 Murasakino, Daitokujicho
Japan 603-8231
Tel: +81 75 491 0019
Daily: 9am – 4.30pm (closes at 5pm for Daisenin and Zuihoin)
Nearest Station: Kitaoji

Photo Credit: Digitravel Magazine

#4 ENGAKU-JI TEMPLE

Engaku-ji comes in second on the list of Kamakura’s five greatest Zen temples. The temple was built to pay respects to the fallen Mongolian and Japanese soldiers during the Mongol Invasion back in 1282.

Sitting on Kita-Kamakura’s forest hills, the temple is another location especially populated during the autumn season. Look out for the Shari-den, a reliquary hall used to house what they claim is the tooth of Buddha, which is considered a national treasure.

Engaku-ji Temple
409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura
Japan 247-0247
Tel: +81 467 22 0478
Daily: 8am – 4.30pm (closes at 4pm from Dec to Feb)
Nearest Station: Kita-Kamakura

#5 TO-JI TEMPLE

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the word To-ji literally translates to East Temple. As one of the most iconic temples in Kyoto, Toji Temple’s five-storey pagoda has become a symbol of the city.

The Kondo Hall is one of To-ji’s original structures that stood through all the fires and wars that occurred and it houses the temple’s main object of worship—a wooden statue of the Yakushi Buddha.

To-ji Temple
1 Kujocho, Minami Ward
Japan 601-8473
Tel: +81 75 691 3325
Daily: 8.30am – 5.30pm (closes at 4.30pm from mid Sep to mid Mar)
Nearest Station: To-ji

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#6 MYOSHIN-JI TEMPLE

Myoshin-ji has roughly 50 sub-temples within its grounds—and that excludes the main buildings. A large number of these are closed to the public but visitors are still free to wander along the temple’s other walking paths.

The Taizoin Temple is one of the more famous sub-temples in Myoshin-ji, and even has a pond garden built in the 1960s.

Myoshin-ji Temple
64 Hanazonomyoshinjicho
Japan 616-8035
Tel: +81 75 461 5226
Daily: 9am – 5pm (closes at 4pm from early Dec to Feb)
Nearest Station: Myoshinji

Photo Credit: Kyoto Travel

#7 DAIGO-JI TEMPLE

Another designated world heritage site, Daigo-ji can be found on the base of a mountain, and connects various more temple buildings via hiking trails. Visitors will first encounter the Sanboin upon entering.

It is actually a prime example of the Momoyama architecture, which survived from year 1573 to 1603.

Daigo-ji Temple
22 Daigohigashiojicho
Japan 601-1325
Tel: +81 75 571 0002
Daily: 9am – 5pm (closes at 4pm from early Dec to Feb)
Nearest Station: Daigo Station

#8 TENRYU-JI TEMPLE

Tenryu-ji claims first place among Kyoto’s five best Zen temples. Dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo, the temple has earned itself the title of being a world heritage site.

A number of the temple’s buildings have been destroyed by fire and wars overtime, but the gardens have made it through in their original form. You can expect to see rocks and pine trees surrounding a central pond, as well as the view of the Arashiyama Mountains.

Tenryu-ji Temple
68 Susukinobaba-cho, Saga Tenryu-ji
Japan 616-8385
Tel: +81 75 881 1235
Daily: 8.30am – 5.30pm (closes at 5pm from late Oct to late Mar)
Nearest Station: Keifuku Arashiyama

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#9 KIYOMIZUDERA TEMPLE

This temple can be found on the grounds of the Otowa Waterfall and is well known for the wooden stage that extends from the main hall. It provides visitors with a stunning view of the cherry blossoms and maple trees during different seasons.

You will also be able to find the Jishu Shrine, dedicated to the deity of love.

Kiyomizudera Temple
294 Kiyomizu 1-chome
Japan 605-0862
Tel: +81 75 551 1234
Mon to Fri: 6am – 6pm
Sat & Sun, Public Holidays, mid Apr to Jul, and Aug and Sep: 6am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Kiyomizu-Gojo

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

#10 RYOAN-JI TEMPLE

Another tourist favourite, Ryoan-ji is where you will find Japan’s most famous rock garden. What is most intriguing about the garden is how the rocks will always be hidden from the viewer no matter where they stand to look at them just like an optical illusion!

Besides that, you can also take a stroll around the park area below one of the temple’s main buildings.

Ryoan-ji Temple
13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho
Japan 616-8001
Tel: +81 75 463 2216
Mar to Nov: 8am – 5pm
Dec to Feb: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Nearest Station: Ryoanji-michi

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#11 NINNA-JI TEMPLE

Unfortunately, none of the original buildings from the Ninna-ji Temple made it through destruction over history, but the rebuilt structures are nothing short of fascinating.

The temple architecture is modelled after an imperial palace, and you will find the different buildings connected to one another by sheltered corridors and sliding doors.

Ninna-ji Temple
33 Omuroouchi
Japan 616-8092
Tel: +81 75-461-1155
Daily: 9am – 5pm (closes at 4.30pm from Dec to Feb)
Nearest Station: Kyoto

Photo Credit: Potolkimaker

#12 SAIHO-JI TEMPLE

Saiho-ji Temple is more often referred to as Kokedera, which translates to ‘moss temple’. The temple grounds boast an estimated number of 120 different species of moss.

Kokedera encourages visitors to take part in a couple of religious activities, such as contributing to the observances of kito—which is the chanting and copying of Buddhist scriptures, and shakyo—which translates to sutra.

Saiho-ji Temple
56 Jingatani-cho, Matsuo
Nishiyo-ku, Kyoto
Japan 615-8286
Tel:  +81 75 391 3631
Nearest Station: Matsuo Taisha

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

#13 SANJUSANGEN-DO TEMPLE

Commonly known as Rengeo-in, this temple houses 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Spanning across 120 metres, the temple hall clocks is Japan’s longest wooden structure.

Sanjusangen-do means 33 intervals, and the name originated from the amount of intervals between the building’s main support pillars. In the main hall sits the statue of Kannon, who is accompanied by 500 more statues of human-sized Kannon.

Sanjusangen-do Temple
657 Sanjusangendomawari
Japan 605-0941
Tel: +81 75-561-0467
Daily: 8am – 4pm (9am to 4pm from 16 Nov to 31 Mar)
Nearest Station: Shichijo

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

#14 ADASHINO NENBUTSU-JI TEMPLE

Adashino Nenbutsu ji Temple is home to 8,000 Buddhist statues erected in remembrance of those who passed away without any family members to remember them.

The temple was built on a hill looking out to the area where dozens lost their lives during the Heian period. Candle-lighting ceremonies are held on the evenings of the 23rd and the 24th of August every year.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
17 Adashino-cho, Sagatoriimoto
Japan 616-8436
Tel: +81 75 861 2221
Mar to Nov: 9am – 4.30pm
Dec to Feb: 9am – 3.30pm
Nearest Station: Arashiyama

Sitting snuggly on the western outskirts of Kyoto surrounded by mountains, Arashiyama is perfect for a day-trip transition from crowded city life to scenic mother nature. The efficiency of the Japanese transport system allows you to visit this picturesque landscape within the hour, making Arashiyama the perfect place for a day trip from Kyoto.

The area is serviced by several buses as well as three large train stations on either side, Keifuku Arashiyama Station, Hankyu Arashiyama Station and JR Saga-Sarashiyama Station both of which are within walking distance of the central area. It’s a beautifully expansive area so here’s a run down of the most unmissable things to cover off in your 24 hours in Arashiyama.

If you alight from Hankyu Arashiyama Station, you’ll first encounter the Togetsu-kyo Bridge, which was named during the Heian period by Emperor Kameyama because of the way the moon appeared to cross over it, reflecting off the surface of the Oi River.

The structure is a favourite (and romantic) viewing platform for visitors to admire the landscape views of the surrounding mountains as well as the cherry blossoms. If you’re lucky, the stretch leading up to the bridge has some local stores set-up selling okonomiyaki (Japanese-styled pizza), yakisoba (fried noodles) and takoyaki (octopus balls) which will have you geared up for exploration!

Before you cross the bridge, head towards Mount Arashiyama where you can climb up around 150 steps to reach the Iwatayama Monkey Park. The 30 minute ascent brings you closer to almost 130 of our furry cousins up close, letting you feed them but the real treat is the unrivalled panoramic views of Kyoto’s city sprawl.

Make your way across the bridge and along the main road flanked on either side by shops, which sell a variety of local sweets and snacks as well as handicraft. Most places offer sample tasting before you buy which is great if you need a few souvenirs for those not as lucky as yourselves.

But don’t stop yet. You’ll have time to explore the street while you wait for a table for lunch, which usually takes upwards of 30 minutes on a quiet day. Head further down until you see Hirokawa, a restaurant into a two-storey traditional wooden house which specialises in freshly sourced eel from farms all over Japan, offering a selection of set lunches and a la carte dishes that will make your wait well worth it.

After a delectable lunch, cross the street and enter the UNESCO heritage site and iconic temple Tenryu-ji. The temple itself and its buildings has since been rebuilt and restored multiple times since it was first erected originally as a palace in 1339 but the Zen garden still retains much of its former magnificence.

If you skipped the Iwatayama Monkey Park earlier, you can still spot a few monkeys on the way up to Kameyama Park, which sits behind Tenryu-ji. Up here, you’ll see Zhou Enlai’s “Arashiyama in the Rain” stone monument as well as a bronze statue further along of Tsuzaki Muraok-no-Tsubone, a court lady-in-waiting. Continue upwards for a breathtaking view of the Hozugawa River, which flows into the Oi River.

Otherwise, head further up north along the main road where you’ll reach the path leading to Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves. The winding path is a 200-metre stretch of green serenity and the perfect way to slow down and feel embraced by nature away from the rest of the world.

You’ll be charmed by the elegance of Arashiyama but make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself with a jam packed itinerary – take your time and breathe in your tranquil surroundings.

For more recommendations, read our guide to 10 things that we love about Kyoto.

About the writer: 
It’s all about travel, photography and food in Andy Yeo’s life. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Australia, Andy has returned to his hometown to capture the best that Asia has to offer. What good are weekends if not for short trips overseas to get your taste buds excited and memories well documented? Read more at www.misteryeo.com.