Historic Buddhist temples, gardens, imperial palaces and palaces, and shrines are some of the unique sightseeing spots in Kyoto that you can visit on your trip to Kyoto.
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1.Kiyomizu Temple (Gion, Higashiyama)
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Kiyomizu Temple is a historic temple said to have been founded in 778 (9th year of the Hogoku era) and built in 798 (17th year of the Enryaku era). The main hall, known as the Kiyomizu-no-butai (stage of Kiyomizu), is the main attraction. It is designated as a national treasure, and the beauty of the scenery against the backdrop of cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall is a fascinating sight. The stage is 18 meters high from the cliff and offers a panoramic view of Kyoto City from the stage.
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Kiyomizu-dera Temple also offers nighttime viewing three times a year in spring, summer, and fall. In spring, from early to mid-March and from late March to early April when the cherry blossoms are at their best, in summer around the time of the Bon Festival, and in autumn from mid-November to the end of November when the autumn leaves are at their best. The sight of the illuminated lights floating in the darkness of the night is fantastic.
2. Kinkakuji Temple (Imadegawa, Kitaoji, Kitano)
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Although its official name is Rokuonji Temple, it is widely known by the nickname of Kinkakuji Temple. The Shariden, a hall with gold leaf inside and outside the building, is called Kinkakuji, and the entire temple, including the Shariden, is called Kinkaku-ji Temple.
The present Kinkakuji was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1950. In 1987, the gold leaf was replaced, and the beautifully shining Kinkakuji Temple was revealed.
The garden, which occupies more than half of the temple grounds, is designated as a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, and the reflection of Kinkakuji reflected in Kyokko Pond is well worth a visit.
3.Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (Fushimi)
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This is the head shrine of the 30,000 Inari shrines in Japan and is said to be the most powerful power spot in Japan for increasing luck in money and success in life.
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The name "Senbon-torii" is synonymous with Fushimi Inari-taisha, and although there are not actually a thousand torii in a row, the name was given to indicate the large number of them. In addition to the thousand torii gates, many other torii gates are dedicated to the shrine, and there are more than 10,000 torii gates of various sizes in the entire Fushimi Inari Taisha.
4.Togetsu Bridge (Arashiyama, Sagano, Uzumasa, Katsura)
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This 155-meter-long bridge was built in the early Heian period (794-1185) as a passageway for temple visitors on the south side of the Katsura River. The name "Togetsu Bridge" is said to have come from a poem written by Emperor Kameyama during his boating trip in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), in which he recited, "It looks like a full moon crossing the bridge on a cloudless day. Arashiyama, Kameyama, and Mt. Ogura rise up behind the bridge, offering seasonal views.
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During the "Arashiyama Hanatouro" held in December, the Wataratsuki Bridge, the foot of the mountains, and the waterfront are lit up! Visitors can enjoy the fantastic sight of Wataratsuki Bridge illuminated by lights, which is different from the beauty seen in the sunlight.
5. Bamboo Grove Road (Arashiyama, Sagano, Ohata, Katsura)
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This is an elegant 200-meter pathway leading from Nomiya Shrine to Okochi Villa, lined with 5- to 10-meter-high bamboo trees.
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During the "Arashiyama Hanatouro" held every year in early December, the path is lit up at night to create a fantastic atmosphere. It is also adjacent to the North Gate of Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage Site.
6. Ginkakuji Temple (Shimogamo, Kita Shirakawa, Heian Shrine)
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The official name of this temple is Jishoji Temple. Originally built as Higashiyama-den, a villa of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, Yoshimasa, who had a strong sense of beauty, spent his life pursuing the beauty of simplicity and simplicity of simplicity, and created the temple in its present form.
One of the highlights of the building is the Kannon-den, or Silver Pavilion. There was a theory that it was covered with silver leaf, but no such traces have been found.
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The pond garden in front of the Ginkaku is a scenic spot designated as a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, and is said to have been modeled after the garden at Saiho-ji Temple (Koke-ji Temple).
7.Nijo Castle (Nijo, Karasuma, Kawaramachi)
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Nijo Castle consists of the magnificent Ninomaru Goten (National Treasure) and Honmaru Goten (Honmaru Palace), which was moved from the former Katsura-no-Miya Palace. The Ninomaru Goten is a typical example of the samurai-style shoin-style building of the Edo period (1603-1867), and you can hear a squeaking sound as you walk down the corridors. This sound is called "Uguisu-bari," or "buzzing sound," to indicate when someone has snuck into the building.
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The Ninomaru Palace contains more than 3,000 paintings, 1,016 of which are designated as National Important Cultural Properties (paintings). The three gardens, "Ninomaru Garden," "Honmaru Garden," and "Seiryuen Garden," which are also designated as national scenic spots, are also worth checking out.
8. Yasaka Shrine (Higashiyama/Gion)
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Known as "Gion-san," this shrine is the site of the Gion Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan, which takes place in July. It is the head shrine of all Yasaka shrines in Japan, and is especially famous for its blessings to ward off bad luck and bring good luck to couples.
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The Nishiro-mon gate facing Higashioji-dori is lit up at night, and the lanterns hung around the main hall are also lit up.
9. Byodoin Temple (Uji, Nagaokakyo, Kizugawa)
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Many people know that the Phoenix Hall, also a national treasure, is depicted on the 10-yen coin. But did you know that the phoenix (bird) of Byodoin is actually depicted on the 10,000 yen bill as well? The symmetrical red hall and the golden phoenix on the roof, which is also chosen for the design of money, are beautiful to see at least once.
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Byodoin is also famous for the wisteria trellis near the Kannon Hall. The beautiful purple wisteria and the Phoenix Hall are popular as they can be photographed together.
10.Sanjusangendo (Higashiyama/Gion)
The main hall of Rengeoin Temple was built in 1164 by Taira no Kiyomori at the order of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. It is called "Sanjusangendo" because of the 33 pillared rooms in the inner sanctum of the main hall, which runs 120 meters from north to south, and is also known as the longest wooden building in Japan.
The hall is lined with 1,000 life-size standing statues of Senju Kannon, each with a different expression, including the seated image of Senju Kannon, a national treasure.
11. Ryoanji Temple (Arashiyama, Sagano, Taimata, Katsura)
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Ryoanji Temple is a temple of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, founded by Hosokawa Katsumoto, a feudal lord who played an active role in the Muromachi Shogunate. The famous stone garden is a simple, masterpiece garden with a rectangle of 25 m wide and 10 m deep surrounded on three sides by white sand and 15 stones.
The 15 stones are arranged in 5, 2, 3, 2, 3, and so on. It is said that no matter which angle you view the garden from, one stone is always hidden behind the others, making it impossible to see all 15 stones at once.
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In the fall, the autumn leaves over the stone garden are beautiful, and the foliage tunnel on the stone steps of the Korori is also a must-see.
12.Nishiki Market (Nijo, Karasuma, Kawaramachi)
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Nishiki Market is a shopping street located on Nishiki-koji-dori, one street north of Shijo-dori, in the center of Kyoto. It is about 390 meters long from east to west, and about 130 stores are crammed into its narrow 3.2 to 5 meter wide lanes. Gourmet food such as soy milk doughnuts, Kyoto-style eateries, and stores selling pickles, Tanba black soybeans, and other foods that make great souvenirs make this a must-visit spot during your visit to Kyoto.
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Efforts have been made to refrain from walking around eating here since 2019, and visitors are encouraged to stop and eat at storefronts.
13. Nanzenji Temple (Shimogamo, Kitashirakawa, Heian Shrine)
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Founded in 1264 by Emperor Kameyama, this temple is the head temple of the Nanzenji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism." The magnificent Sanmon Gate, one of the "Three Great Gates of Kyoto" and one of the "Three Great Gates of Japan," allows visitors to go up to the second floor Gohorou, where they can view the temple grounds and the city of Kyoto from a height of 22 meters.
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The 93.2-meter-long Suijikaku, built in 1890, is famous for being used as a filming location for many TV dramas and movies. It is also known for its beautiful autumn foliage, which is usually at its best from mid to late November.
14.Toji Temple (Kyoto Station area)
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The official name of this temple is Kyo-o-gokoku-ji Temple. The five-story pagoda, the symbol of Kyoto, is 55 meters high and the tallest wooden structure in Japan. It was rebuilt by Tokugawa Iemitsu and is designated as a national treasure. Kondo, Daishido, and Renkamon, rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori in 1603, are also designated as national treasures.
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During the cherry blossom season, To-ji Temple holds a special nighttime viewing called "To-ji Temple Night Cherry Blossom Lighting," where visitors can enjoy the elegant view of the five-story pagoda, Fuji-zakura and weeping cherry trees illuminated by the light.
15.Kyoto Tower (Kyoto Station area)
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Kyoto Tower stands 131 meters above the ground, right in front of the Karasuma Central Exit of Kyoto Station. The observation deck is located on the 4th and 5th floors of the tower and is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Although the observation deck itself is not very high at 100 m above the ground, it offers an unobstructed view of the city of Kyoto, as there are not many tall buildings in the city.
There is also a large public bath on the third basement floor of Kyoto Tower, so if time permits, a refreshing bath is also recommended!
16.Heian Jingu Shrine (Shimogamo, Kita Shirakawa, Heian Jingu Shrine)
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Heian Jingu was built in 1895 as a general shrine for the citizens of Kyoto on the occasion of the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian-kyo. The shrine pavilions, which are five-eighths the size of the main hall (Chodoin) of Heian-kyo, are beautifully reproduced, and the "Jinguen," a vast 30,000 m2 garden with a circular path around a pond, is filled with weeping cherry trees and other seasonal flowers and plants.
17. Jishu Shrine (Higashiyama/Gion)
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Located next to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a World Heritage site and one of Kyoto's most popular tourist attractions. Jishu Shrine is one of Kyoto's representative match-making shrines, with Okuninushi no Mikoto, the famous god of marriage, as its main deity.
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There are two stones called "love fortune-telling stones" on the shrine grounds, and legend has it that if you can walk between the two stones with your eyes closed and reach the stone on the other side, your love will come true.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)