Hi there!
If you are looking for ONE city in Japan to visit for temples, Kyoto can be a perfect choice!
As an ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto has tons of temples all around the city, big and small.
Some of the most famous temples in Japan can be found in Kyoto.
Temples can be perfect to visit as part of your first trip to Japan because you can get a feel for traditional Japanese culture and history.
And, many temple grounds also can be a perfect nature walk with a stroll through Japanese gardens around the temple.
With so many temples to visit, Kyoto is one of the best places to visit in Japan for traditional Japanese culture.
Some of the most famous temples in Kyoto include Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, and Kiyomizu-dera, but there are so many more!
There are many temples that have UNESCO world heritage status in Kyoto.
Japanese language tip: TEMPLE
The ji or dera that you see in the names of many temples means temple.
But you wouldn’t use ji or dera on its own to talk about a temple in general. In this case, ji or dera is used when attached to the name of the temple.
When speaking generally of a temple, you would call it tera or otera.
Now…
Best temples in Kyoto visit when it’s your first trip to Japan
1. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
How to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple as part of a walk from Gion to Kiyomizu-dera.
Kiyomizu-dera is a UNESCO world heritage temple in Kyoto.
2. Kinkakuji Temple
How to visit Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Kinkakuji Temple as part of your day with a one day Kyoto bus pass and visit more temples and shrines.
Kinkakuji is a UNESCO world heritage temple in Kyoto.
3. Tenryuji Temple
How to visit Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Tenryuji Temple as part of your one day in Arashiyama.
Tenryuji is a UNESCO world heritage temple in Kyoto.
See pictures of this Kyoto temple:
4. Ryoanji Temple
How to visit Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Ryoanji Temple as part of your day with a one day Kyoto bus pass and visit more temples and shrines.
Ryoanji is a UNESCO world heritage temple in Kyoto.
5. Nanzenji Temple
How to visit Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Nanzenji Temple as part of your Philosophers Path walk where you do a temple-to-temple culture walk.
6. Chion-in Temple
How to visit Chion-in Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Chion-in Temple as part of a walk from Gion to Kiyomizu-dera.
7. Ginkakuji Temple
How to visit Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Ginkakuji Temple as part of your Philosophers Path walk where you do a temple-to-temple culture walk.
Ginkakuji is a UNESCO world heritage temple in Kyoto.
See pictures of this Kyoto temple:
8. Eikando Temple
How to visit Eikando Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Eikando Temple as part of your Philosophers Path walk where you do a temple-to-temple culture walk.
9. Kurama-dera Temple
How to visit Kurama-dera Temple in Kyoto
You can go to the Kurama-dera Temple as part of your Kurama to Kibune hike where you do a temple-to-shrine culture walk.
You can use the Kurama Kibune Ohara one day pass to also go to the rural village of Ohara.
There are also temples that you can visit in Ohara including the Sanzen-in Temple and Jakko-in Temple.
And finally…
Temple tea gardens
Matcha green tea is a classic Kyoto thing!
There are many temples that have tea gardens, tea houses, tea rooms, or the like!
👆 The Kinkakuji Temple is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto… and Japan! You can stop by for some matcha green tea at the Kinkakuji Temple!
👆 The Ginkakuji Temple is one of the popular temples in Kyoto! You can stop by for some matcha green tea at the Ginkakuji Temple!
So grab a cup of matcha tea and enjoy the Japanese gardens at a temple in Kyoto!
You can also go to a tea house at the famous Kyoto castle of Nijo Castle!
And that’s a bit about some of the best temples in Kyoto!
HAPPY VISITING TEMPLES IN KYOTO!
See more about how to visit all of these temples as part of your time in Kyoto: Perfect Kyoto itinerary
Here are ideas for your Kyoto itinerary!
- Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
- Day 2: Fushimi Inari Shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates
- Day 3: Philosopher's Path walk
- Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
- Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass
PLUS Kyoto cherry blossom itinerary and Kyoto fall colors itinerary!
Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!
Is a JR pass worth it?!
- Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
- In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
- Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
- So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
- Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs.
- And compare!
- Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.
Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)
👇 Explore the best places to visit in Japan!
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