Kyoto, a city with long history and many traditional places, has always been on the list of the world's top cities. Recently, the city was even voted as the world's top city by the readers of Travel+Leisure, a famous magazine from New York.
Visiting temples and shrines is definitely a must do when traveling in Kyoto. There are over 1500 of them to be found in the whole of Kyoto. In the list below we recommend you the 20 most beautiful shrines and temples in Kyoto that are without a doubt worth it to visit.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
A 1,300 year old shrine for the God of bountiful crops and prosperous business
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 08:30 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) Shrine grounds are open 24 hours a day |
Price | FREE |
Address | Fushimi Inari Shrine, 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-641-7331 |
Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fushimi_Inari-taisha |
Kinkakuji
The golden World Heritage site that glitters in the midst of each seasonal landscape
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 400 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | Kinkaku-ji, 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-461-0013 |
Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji |
Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera is Kyoto’s most popular tourist attraction
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 06:00 AM ~ 05:30 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 300 JPY Child: 200 JPY |
Address | 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-551-1234 |
Website | http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/lang/01.html |
Sanjusangen-do
A museum of Buddhist statues – 1001 life size statues of Senju Kannon
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:00 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 600 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | Rengeoin Sanjusangendo, 657 Sanjusangendomawari, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture See map |
Telephone | 075-561-0467 |
Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanj%C5%ABsangen-d%C5%8D |
Eikan-do
A place your soul can feel refreshed, seeing the beautiful autumn leaves and the Mikaeri Amida statue
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 600 JPY Child: 400 JPY |
Address | Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji,48 Eikandocho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-761-0007 |
Website | http://www.eikando.or.jp/English/index_eng.html |
Ninna-ji Temple
Ninna-ji is recommended to see the beautiful late-blooming cherry blossoms.
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | 33 Omuro Ouchi, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-461-4070 |
Website | http://www.ninnaji.or.jp/multilingual_info.html |
Ginkakuji (Higashiyama Jisho-ji)
Ginkakuji, or “Temple of the Silver Pavilion,” is a representation of the Higashiyama culture or traditional Japanese culture at its finest
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | Higashiyama Jisho-ji, 2 Ginkakujicho Sakyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture See map |
Telephone | 075-771-5725 |
Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkaku-ji |
Kifune Shrine
The God of Water and The God of Marriage
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
Price | FREE |
Address | Kifune Shrine 180 Kuramakibunecho Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-741-2016 |
Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kifune_Shrine |
Nanzenji
Kyoto’s best location to see the cherry blossoms and the autumn colors. Enjoy the Cultural Properties of Nanzenji.
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | Nanzen-ji, Nanzenji Fukuchicho Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-771-0365 |
Website | http://www.nanzen.net/english/ |
Ryoan-ji
Relax in the famous Rock Garden of Ryoan-ji
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 08:30 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | Ryōan-ji, 13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture See map |
Telephone | 075-463-2216 |
Website | http://www.ryoanji.jp/smph/eng/ |
Tenryu-ji Temple
A World Heritage site with the spectacular Unryu-zu (image of the cloud dragon) and a garden from 700 years ago
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:00 PM ) |
Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
Address | Tenryū-ji Temple Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-881-1235 |
Website | http://www.tenryuji.com/en/ |
Toji (Kyo-o-gokokuji)
A temple with great history marked by its five-story pagoda, the landmark of the ancient Kyoto
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 08:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
Address | 1 Kujocho Minami-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-691-3325 |
Website | http://www.toji.or.jp/en/global.html |
Daikakuji
Daikakuji: The temple with the oldest man made pond in Japan
More information
Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) reception by 4:30 p.m. |
Price | Adult: 500 yen Primary, junior high school, and high school students: 300 yen |
Address | Daikakuji, 4 Sagaosawacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture See map |
Telephone | 075-871-0071 |
Website | http://www.daikakuji.or.jp/english/ |
Saiho-ji Temple (Koke-dera)
There is a splendid garden which spreads out like a green carpet, covered in 120 kinds of moss
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Price | Adults: 3,000 JPY Child: 3,000 JPY |
Address | 56 Matsuojingatanicho Nishikyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-391-3631 |
Website | http://www.saihoji-kokedera-reservation.com/ |
Tofuku-ji Temple
Tofuku-ji Temple whose buildings have been designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties
More information
Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:00 PM ) |
Price | FREE |
Address | 東福寺,Fushimi-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-533-0621 |
Website | http://www.tofukuji.jp/english/index.html |
Yasaka Shrine
The guardian deity of Hanamachi (the geisha quarter). It provides protection against evil, avoid disease, and prosperity of business.
More information
Business Hours | Everyday |
Price | FREE |
Address | 625 Giommachi Kitagawa Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-561-6155 |
Website | http://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/en/ |
Byodoin Temple
Heaven on earth – Byodoin Temple, a World Heritage Site
More information
Business Hours | Everyday ( 08:30 AM ~ 05:30 PM ) |
Address | 平等院 Renge-116 Uji Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 0774-21-2861 |
Website | http://www.byodoin.or.jp |
Shimogamo Shrine
One of Kyoto’s oldest shrines surrounded by an ancient forest
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Business Hours | Everyday ( 06:30 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
Price | FREE |
Address | 59 Shimogamo Izumigawacho Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, See map |
Telephone | 075-781-0010 |
Website | http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/english.html |
Enko-ji Temple
An ancient 16th-century temple that has retained the legend of the turtles protecting the temple from a great fire in Furukawa
More information
Business Hours | Everyday |
Price | FREE |
Address | 11-11 Tonomachi, Furukawa, Hida, Gifu See map |
Telephone | 0577-73-2954 |
Heian Shrine
Immerse yourself in the history of the dazzling ancient capital Kyoto at Heian Shrine
More information
Business Hours | Everyday ( 06:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
Price | FREE |
Address | Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
Telephone | 075-761-0221 |
Website | http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/shritemp/heianjingu.html |