Temples and Shrines of Japan

Kyoto’s spiritual landscape features a dense concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranging from the 7th-century Yasaka Shrine to the 15th-century Zen gardens of Ginkaku-ji. This collection includes iconic landmarks like Kinkaku-ji’s gold-leaf pavilion, the thousands of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari-taisha, and the massive wooden stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Beyond the famous sites, the list covers the Ryoan-ji rock garden, the 1,001 statues of Sanjūsangen-dō, and the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in in Uji, showcasing over a millennium of Japanese religious architecture and landscape design.

Temples and Shrines of Japan — Harita

A

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple)

Zen Buddhist temple featuring a gold-leaf-covered pavilion and historic gardens. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and architectural significance.

Jakub Hałun / GFDL

B

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Shinto shrine with a history of over 1300 years, renowned for thousands of vermilion torii gates leading up a sacred mountain. It serves as the head shrine of Inari worship and features traditional Japanese architecture.

Jordy Meow / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Historic Buddhist temple known for its large wooden stage and scenic views, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Oilstreet / CC BY 2.5

D

Ginkakuji Temple

A Zen temple from the 15th century AD. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, with famous decorative sand patterns, trees, and ponds, said…

Kanchi1979 / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine is one of the Kanpei-taisha, which means that it is highly supported by the government. Its history dates back to 656.

Brian Jeffery Beggerly (beggs) from… / CC BY 2.0

F

Heian-jingu Shrine

A striking Shinto shrine and a favorite sight of many tourists in Kyoto.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

G

Tenryu-ji Temple

Tenryū-ji, formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji, is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in…

Nekosuki / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Ryōan-ji

Ryōan-ji is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism.

I

Nanzen-ji Temple

Nanzen-ji, or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly Zenrin-ji, is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.

ERIC SALARD / CC BY-SA 2.0

J

Sanjūsangen-dō or Rengeō-in-hon-dō

Sanjūsangen-dō is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan.

Atelier Verde / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

To-ji Temple

Tō-ji Temple, also known as Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

L

Chion-in

Chion-in in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan is the headquarters of the Jōdo-shū founded by Hōnen, who proclaimed that sentient beings are…

663highland / CC BY 2.5

M

Ninna-ji temple

A head temple of Omuro school of Buddhism consists of impressive buildings and tranquil gardens.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

N

Byodoin

Byōdō-in is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, built in the late Heian period.

Nekosuki / CC BY-SA 4.0

O

Nishi-Honganji Temple

Nishi Hongan-ji is a Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist temple in the Shimogyō ward of Kyoto, Japan.

Nekosuki / CC BY-SA 4.0

P

Daigoji Temple

A Buddhist temple that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a unique and breathtaking sight to behold.

Q

Adashino-Nenbutsudera Temple

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. In 811 Kūkai is said to have founded a temple, then Honen altered it to…

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

R

Saihoji Temple

Saihō-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in Matsuo, Nishikyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

S

Kouzanji Temple

Kōzan-ji, officially Toganōsan Kōsan-ji, is a Buddhist temple of the Omuro sect of Shingon Buddhism in Umegahata Toganōchō, Ukyō Ward,…

Yanajin33 / CC BY-SA 3.0

T

Daikaku-ji Temple

Daikaku-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Ukyō-ku, a western ward in the city of Kyoto, Japan.

Jim G / CC BY 2.0

U

Ujigami Shrine

The Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.