There are many historic temples and shrines in Kyoto city. You can enjoy beautiful wooden architecture, Japanese gardens, and experiences related to Buddhism and Shintoism. This is a list of recommended temples and shrines.
Kyoto City? Temples and Shrines List ?
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Kyoto City spot
Hokoji temple (Kyoto) The temple bell that changed history
Within the grounds of Hokoji Temple, there is a gigantic temple bell. This was made in 1614 by Toyotomi Hideyori to commemorate his father, Hideyoshi. However, the inscription is said to contain words cursing Tokugawa Ieyasu, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Toyotomi family. -
Kyoto City spot
Yogenin temple (Kyoto) Blood stained ceilings
Yogenin Temple was built in 1594 by Yodo-dono, a concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to commemorate her father. This temple is famous for its blood-stained ceiling. There are bloodstains on the ceiling from samurai who committed suicide.It's a very striking sight, with the shapes of hands and feet clearly visible. -
Kyoto City spot
Kamigamo-jinja shrine (Kyoto)
Kamigamo-jinja Shrine is a shrine that boasts a history said to be the oldest in Kyoto. Special prayers and viewings are accepted here at any time. After receiving prayers from the Shinto priest, you can view gardens and treasures that are normally off-limits to the public. -
Kyoto City spot
Oota-jinja shrine (Kyoto)
It is a subsidiary shrine of Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, but its founding date is older than that. The enshrined deity is Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, who is believed to grant blessings for improvement in performing arts. On the east side of the shrine grounds is a pond, famous for its Japanese irises that bloom around mid-May. -
Kyoto City spot
Zuisyunin temple (Kyoto)
It is a sub-temple of Shokokuji Temple, located on the west side of the temple grounds. The author Tsutomu Mizukami trained there from the age of 9 to 13, and it is known that he wrote the novel "The Temple of the Wild Geese" based on that experience. -
Kyoto City spot
Syokokuji temple (Kyoto) The oldest Dharma Hall architecture
Shokokuji Temple was founded at the end of the 14th century by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. This is the head temple of the Shokokuji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. The Dharma hall, built in 1605, is the oldest example of a Dharma hall architecture in Japan. -
Kyoto City spot
Honpoji temple (Kyoto)
It is one of the eight main temples of the Nichiren sect in Kyoto. Many of the buildings, including the main hall, the founder's hall, and the pagoda, are designated as tangible cultural properties of Kyoto Prefecture. The garden created by Honami Koetsu and the Nirvana painting by Hasegawa Tohaku are also famous. -
Kyoto City spot
Hokyoji temple (Kyoto) Nunnery associated with the Imperial family
Hokyoji Temple is a nunnery with ties to the Imperial family, where the head priest has traditionally been a princess. Because the Emperor presented dolls to the temple seasonally, this temple houses a large collection of dolls. These are open to the public every spring and autumn. -
Kyoto City spot
Honryuji temple (Kyoto)
Honryuji Temple is the head temple of the Shinmon-ryu branch of the Hokke sect. It was founded in 1488. The main hall and the founder's hall are designated as important cultural properties. Having survived numerous fires, it is known as the "Temple That Never Burned." -
Kyoto City spot
Uhoin temple (Kyoto)
This temple originated in 821 when Kobo Daishi enshrined a statue of Kangiten (Nandikesvara) to pray for the recovery of Emperor Saga from illness. A statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon (Sahasrabhuja), designated as an Important Cultural Property, is enshrined here.
