6 Unique Temples & Shrines to Experience in Kyoto, Japan

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Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan mesmerized us to no end. We spent 7 days in the cultural capital of Japan, immersing ourselves in the traditions, history, culture, food, gardens, temples & shrines, but they were in no way enough. While planning the trip, I started making a list of the temples and shrines I wanted to visit and experience in Kyoto. Sure enough, it got very long very soon. After all, Kyoto boasts upwards of 1,600 temples and 400 shines. Add to it, the complexity of fall colors and managing the schedule of a small kid. We wanted to write about all the places we finally decided to visit. Well, here are the 6 unique temples & shrines to experience in Kyoto, Japan!

6 Unique Temples and Shrines to Experience in Kyoto.

Below is a comprehensive list of must-visit unique temples & shrines in Kyoto, covering torii gates, beautiful Zen gardens, fall colors, viewpoints, an in-house vegetarian restaurant, etc. We skipped a few famous temples like Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple, but we don’t think we missed much. Because, after a while, you will get a little templed out. 😉 Dive into the article to know all about these 6 unique temples and shines you must experience in Kyoto.

1. Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine needs no introduction! After all, it’s Japan’s most iconic shrine famous for its never-ending vermilion torii gates. It’s a no-brainer that this shrine was on top of our list of 6 unique temples & shrines to experience in Kyoto. This oldest and most important Shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to the Shinto God named Inari which means rice in Japanese, and symbolizes prosperous business.

Tourists usually visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine to experience walking through thousands of torii gates. These torii gates neatly line up through the mountain trail, all the way to the summit of Mount Inari. The trail is surrounded by numerous bamboo trees, making the experience rather enjoyable.

Because of its popularity, the shrine is jam-packed with tourists throughout the year. In our opinion, it’s best to visit during sunrise. That way, you will find more opportunities to get those Instagram photos and hike up the trail peacefully without worrying about navigating the thick crowd.

When I hiked up to the summit, there was a light nip in the morning air, making the experience less hectic. The scenery surrounding the trail along the bamboo forest and the peaceful sunrays are engraved in my memory. If you cannot visit the shrine in the morning, remember that the crowds thin out towards the top of the trail. With some patience, you will be able to get those Instagram shots.

During your hike, you will also come across many small fox statues. The foxes are believed to be Inari’s messengers in the Shinto religion. You can venture out and explore the many smaller shines / prayer areas as you hike through the trail.

Opening hours and other details:

• Fushimi Inari shrine is open 24 hours every day.
• The shrine is free for visitors.
• The entire 4km hike takes about 2-3 hours to cover.

Quick Tips:

• If you are traveling with small kids/babies, it’s worth noting that the Shrine isn’t buggy-friendly. There are numerous stairs throughout the trail so a baby carrier would be a more practical option.
• Remember to carry some water and cash with you. You will find many vending machines & shops selling drinks, snacks, and souvenirs along the way.
• You will also find a few restrooms dotted across the hike, but keep in mind they are open only after 9 am and until 5 pm.

Cafes to experience:

• After the hike, we recommend indulging yourself in beautiful Uji matcha parfaits at Inari Saryo. It’s a cute Japanese tea cafe with outdoor seating.
• There are many small street vendors & shops at the entrance if you want to grab a quick bite after the hike.

2. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Another very popular temple in Kyoto is the Kiyomizu-dera temple which means Pure Water Temple. It is famous for its wooden stage that juts out of the side of a mountain supported by 13-meter-high wooden columns. This wooden stage offers stunning views of the Koyoto city and the valley below and is especially beautiful during spring and autumn. Tourists also visit the temple to watch the sunset from the wooden stage.

I visited the temple twice, once during the rush hours of the afternoon and sunset and once early in the morning as a part of my photo walk around the area. My first visit was extremely hectic, filled with thousands of people fighting for the same photo/viewing spot. I found it hard to appreciate the beauty of the architecture and the peaceful surroundings it is famous for. However, when I walked through the premises of the temple during the morning hours, my perception was completely changed. I now understand why Kiyomizu-dera is so beautiful and popular among tourists and locals.

The temple offers many stunning viewpoints and areas of interest. After you enter the paid area, you will reach the wooden stage. From there, if you take a left, you will reach Jishu Jinna Shrine which is the famous Shine for the God of matchmaking. If you take a right and continue walking down south, you will be able to view the wooden stage of the temple together with the three-story pagoda. Kiyomizudera Koyasunoto Pagoda down the road is another beautiful photo location that is less crowded and offers a great view of the temple.

Opening hours and other details:

• Kiyomizu-dera temple is open from 6 am to 6 pm every day.
• The entrance fee is 400 ¥ per person.

Quick Tips:

• Outside the temple, as you walk down the road you will find the famous but overly crowded streets of Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, and the Hokan-ji Temple (Yasaka no to). Remember the shops begin to close around 5.30 pm – 6 pm and the crowds start to thin out later in the night.

3. Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

Otagi Nenbutsuji temple isn’t one of the popular temples in Kyoto but is slowly gaining attention due to social media. Rightly so, it is one of the most unique places I had a chance to experience. The temple is situated on the outskirts of Arashiyama and is famous for its 1,200 stone-carved statues known as rakan. Ghibli movie fans will know that some of the elements in the movie ‘Spirited Away’ were inspired by this temple.

The rakans were carved by common people and hence are unique in their own way. Each rakan showcases their personalities, some are posed in serious prayer, while others are smiling, laughing, or holding objects that hint at the carvers’ hobbies and passions.

Without a doubt, this was one of my favorite temples to visit in Kyoto and should definitely be on your list of unique temples & shrines to visit in Kyoto. The peaceful ambiance combined with its quirky characteristics made it rather appealing to my senses.

Opening Hours and other details:

• Otagi Nenbutsuji temple is open from 8 am to 5 pm every day.
• The entry fee is only 300 ¥ per person
• It’s a bit of a trek to get there, as you need to get to Arashiyama and then take a 30-minute bus to Otagi Nenbutsuji. However, the effort is well worth it as the crowds are usually negligible.
• Being further away from the main area, there are no cafes or shops near the temple.

4. Ruriko-in Temple

Ruriko-in temple is another very attractive temple in Kyoto. It is a very sought-after location as it is only open to visitors 3 times a year i.e., spring, summer & autumn.

This Buddhist temple is set in a forest atmosphere of fresh greenery and moss. During spring and summer, you can witness various shades of green surrounding the temple. It is, however, particularly famous during autumn, as it offers a gorgeous viewing platform for maple trees in their colorful glory.

Upon entering the temple, you will also receive a package to experience shakyo, which involves copying kanji characters of a sutra to offer a prayer. You can inscribe a wish in any language on a traditional paper and leave it at the temple to bring good luck.

We visited during the beginning of the autumn season. I was slightly disappointed as the maple trees were still green but the temple was very crowded already. So, we couldn’t experience the calm and peaceful part of the Buddhist temple. If you travel to Japan during the peak autumn season, I highly recommend adding this temple to your list of unique temples & shrines to visit in Kyoto.

Opening hours and other details:

• Rurikoin is also one of the pricy temples with an admission fee of 2,000 ¥ per person.
• The temple is open from 10 am to 5 pm during the viewing period.
• You will need a prior reservation during specific dates, especially when the autumn leaves are in full glory. Please check their website and make reservations in advance.

5. Yasaka-Jinja Shrine

Yasaka-Jinja Shine is an unmissable landmark in the Gion district of Kyoto. Sure enough, while strolling through the area you will come across the Vermilion entrance gate marking the landmark. Once inside the gate, you can access several smaller shrines, some of which are famous for things such as helping you become beautiful or find love in a relationship.

Unlike the other Shrines & Temples in Kyoto, we recommend visiting this landmark after dark. Even though the main temple has closed, you will get to experience fewer crowds and a calmer surrounding. In the dark, you will get to enjoy the numerous lanterns illuminated. It’s truly a magical experience. The Shrine is particularly popular during spring and autumn, however, it’s also a beautiful site to visit throughout the year.

Opening hours and other details:

• There are no admission fees.
• Yasaka-jinja Shrine is open 24 hours every day, with the official prayer rooms open from 9 am to 4 pm.

6. Tenryu-ji Temple

Finally on our list is the Tenryu-ji temple in Arishiyama, however, not because of the temple itself! We recommend visiting their in-house Zen Vegetarian Restaurant, Shigetsu. Just on the other side of the Arishiyama bamboo forest, the temple is very centrally located and allows you to make the most of your Arishiyama day trip.

Shigetsu Restaurant offers Zen Vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori) in a temple-style set-up surrounded by Tenryu-ji’s beautiful Zen gardens. Shojin ryori originated in Chinese Zen, and was brought to Japan along with the Zen teachings during the thirteenth century.

Being Indians we are very accustomed to temple meals, and even then it was hard to pass on this experience. The food was very subtle in taste and consisted of fresh fruits & vegetables following Buddhist ideology. If you are a foodie and want to experience the most authentic flavors, you must add this temple in your must-visit & unique temples & shrines list in Kyoto.

Opening hours and other details:

• Shigetsu restaurant is open from 11 am to 2 pm throughout the year and offers 3 versions of set lunches. We chose Yuki set lunch which was the lowest cost of all three and it was a fulfilling experience.
• The restaurant can accommodate only 250 guests at a given time and gets filled up very quickly. You need to make a reservation well in advance, especially during peak tourist season. Please check their website for more details.
• To dine in the restaurant, you will also need to pay a 500 ¥ per person Tenryu-ji temple garden admission fee. The garden is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm every day.

Tenryu-ji temple garden is beautiful and a fine introduction to Japanese gardens and landscaping. Of course, like everything else in Japan, the garden will be crowded. However, you can easily frame your angles to get beautiful photos.

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We hope our article will make it easier for you to shortlist and finalize a list of unique temples & shrines that you want to experience in Kyoto.

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