Japan’s Sacred Gems: Exploring Kyoto’s Temples & Shrines

Kyoto, Japan is an enchanting city of tradition and spirituality. As you step into the realm of ancient shrines, temples, and peaceful gardens, you’ll find yourself immersed in the rich tapestry of Japanese culture. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey exploring the popular temples that stand as timeless witnesses to Kyoto’s storied past.

Tips For Exploring Kyoto’s Temples & Shrines

• Kyoto is an extreme popular place to visit and it can get crowded. Bring your patience, especially if you’re looking to get the temple photos that you’re envisioning without people in them.
• Stay in the city. Not only will you want multiple days to explore all that Kyoto has to offer, by staying in the city you can get a head start on visiting some of the more popular attractions.
• Bring your walking shoes. Kyoto is a rather compact city and you can often go between many temples and attractions on foot. It’s a beautiful city to walk around and you’ll see many hidden treasures on your walks between stops.
• For traveling longer distances, there are a few options. Train and subway options in Kyoto, though available, aren’t that easy to navigate for visiting temples. We found the taxis to be our best option for exploring Kyoto’s temples. The taxis are cheap, clean, and efficient.
• There are over 1600 temples and shrines in Kyoto! Though we are highlighting some of the popular ones below, make sure to spend some time exploring the city and taking in the smaller less visited ones along the way.
• Bonus: Kyoto’s main train station has a whole floor dedicated to Ramen restaurants. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, make sure to check out Kyoto Ramen Koji!

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

A symbol of Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine boasts thousands of vermillion torii gates, forming a mesmerizing tunnel of vibrant red hues. Venture up the forested trails to reach the mountain’s summit for a stunning panorama. This was one of our favorite stops in Kyoto as there was so much to explore. Outside of the torii gate tunnels there are many small shrines set within the forest along with amazing landscape that we enjoyed wandering through.

This shrine is close to Kyoto Station. We took a quick train ride on the Nara Line to Inari Station. It is always open and free to visit.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

A marvel of wooden architecture, the Kiyomizu-dera Temple offers breathtaking views of the city from its elevated terrace. Known as the Pure Water Temple, Kiyomizu-dera offers a chance to drink from the sacred Otawa Waterfall, believed to grant wishes. This is a large temple with amazing views so plan plenty of time to explore and enjoy

If staying in Kyoto like we did, this was within walking distance of the city center. It’s open 6am to 6pm and gets crowded fast, so the earlier you can go the better. Admission is 400 Yen (approximately $3).

Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)

Nestled amidst picturesque landscapes, Kinkaku-ji shines with resplendent beauty. The iconic three-story Zen Buddhist temple, adorned in gold leaf, reflects its shimmering brilliance on the calm waters of Kyoko-chi pond. With its gilded facade reflecting on the tranquil pond, Kinkaku-ji stands as a symbol of opulence and Zen serenity, captivating all who visit.

We found this temple a bit tricky to navigate to and opted to take a taxi for efficiency. It is open from 9am to 5pm and admission is 500 Yen (approximately $3.50). Keep an eye out for the stand selling golden pavilion sake bottles – it made for a great souvenir!

Ryoan-ji (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon)

Embrace the serenity at Ryoan-ji’s Zen rock garden, an oasis of tranquility where 15 stones are meticulously placed amidst raked white gravel. Contemplate the art of meditation in this minimalist and thought-provoking setting. Along with seeing the rock garden, the grounds of this temple were nice to explore with many additional temple buildings.

We’d recommend pairing this up with a visit to Kinkaku-ji Temple as they are within walking distance of each other. It is open from 8am to 5pm and admission is 500 Yen (approximately $3.50).

Toji Temple

Marvel at the five-story pagoda of Toji Temple, the tallest of its kind in Japan. Admire the exquisite Buddhist statues and ancient relics that impart a profound sense of the country’s spiritual history. Along with visiting the temple, this is also a popular shopping area of Kyoto and we enjoyed stopping at some shops along our way there.

Toji Temple is within easy walking distance of both Kyoto Station as well as other main stations within town. It is open 8am to 5pm and admission is 500 Yen (approximately $3.50).

Kyoto’s temples form a timeless tapestry of devotion, architecture, and art. As you explore each sacred site, you’ll find yourself connected to Japan’s spiritual legacy and cultural heritage. With their majestic allure and peaceful sanctuaries, these temples offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of Kyoto. Make sure to add these magnificent marvels to your Japan itinerary. For more travel inspiration, check out our additional blog posts on international travel.