Kyoto City? category ?

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of Kyoto's most representative temples. It's always very crowded during the day, but in the early morning there are fewer people, so you can visit the shrine at your leisure. I was the first one there, heading to the stage in front of the main hall.

Chorakuji Temple was founded in 805 by Saicho, the founder of the Tendai sect. It later changed to the Jishu sect and remains so to this day. This temple is where Taira Tokushi, the heroine of the Tale of the Heike, spent her time. This story is read by many people in Japan as a nothing lasts forever in Buddhism.

Nanzenji Temple was founded in 1291. The temple grounds contain many valuable buildings, including the Hojo hall (National Treasure) and the Sanmon gate (Important Cultural Property). The Hatto (main hall) has an impressive ceiling painting of a dragon.

At Nanzenji Temple, zen meditation sessions are held on the second and fourth Sunday mornings of every month. I practiced zazen in the large hall and in front of the dry landscape garden. I could hear the babbling water, the birds singing and feel the wind blowing, and it really calmed my mind.

It is the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect. The Goei-do Hall and Amida-do Hall are designated as national treasures. You can enter these halls between 5:30am and 5:00pm. Although it is hard to find, Karamon Gate was amazing. There were many auspicious carvings of sacred animals.

Toji Temple was built about 1,200 years ago and is the only temple remaining from the original founding of Kyoto. I attended the morning service at Toji Temple. I entered the national treasure hall and listened to the monks chanting sutras. It was a sutra that sounded like a song with a melody.

Myoshinji is the head temple of the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, with over 3,000 branch temples. The grounds are simply spacious. There are many valuable buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties within the temple grounds. There was also a room for zen meditation and copying sutras.

Chishakuin was originally located in Wakayama, but was burned down by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and rebuilt in Kyoto in 1601. It is currently the head temple of the Shingon sect Chizan school of Buddhism, which brings together over 3,000 temples. You can see a beautiful Japanese garden and national treasure wall paintings.

Chionin Temple began in 1175 when the monk Honen built a hermitage there. It is now a huge temple and is the head temple of the Jodo sect. There are two Japanese national treasure buildings within the temple grounds. Services are held here every morning and you can attend.

Chionin Temple is the head temple of the Jodo sect. Morning services are held every morning from 6:30 am. No reservations are required and anyone can attend as long as they arrive at the start time. I was allowed to enter the inner sanctuary of the Mieido Hall, which is normally off-limits.