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Nison-In
This is a popular spot with maple-watchers. Nison-in was originally built in the 9th century by Emperor Saga. It houses two important Kamakura-era Buddha statues side by side (Shaka on the right and Amida on the left). The temple features lacquered nightingale floors.
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Obai-In
If you are lucky enough to be in Kyoto during autumn when this subtemple of Daitoku-ji is opened to the public, then you should make an effort to visit. The subtemple is a world of interlinked gardens, including an incredibly rich moss garden and a starkly simply karesansui . Along with nearby Kōtō-in, we rank this as one of the finest gardens in Kyoto. When you enter the Daitoku-ji complex via the east (main) gate, it's on the left.
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Reikan-Ji
Only open to the public in spring and autumn, Reikan-ji is one of Kyoto's great lesser-visited attractions. During the spring opening, you will find the grounds positively rioting with camellia. In autumn, the brilliant reds of the maples will dazzle the eye. The small collection of artworks in the main building is almost as good as the colours outside.
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Rokuharamitsu-Ji
An important Buddhist pilgrimage stop, this temple was founded in 963 by Kūya Shōnin, who carved an image of an 11-headed Kannon and installed it in the temple in the hope of stopping a plague that was ravaging Kyoto at the time.
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Ryōan-Ji
You've probably seen a picture of the rock garden here - it's one of the symbols of Kyoto and one of Japan's better-known sights. There is no doubt that it's a mesmerising and attractive sight, but it's hard to enjoy amid the mobs who come to check it off their 'must-see list'. An early-morning visit on a weekday is probably your best hope of seeing the garden under contemplative conditions.
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Ryōgen-In
Ryōgen-in is a fine subtemple in the Daitoku-ji complex. It's got two pleasing gardens, one moss and one karesansui. The karesansui has an interesting island in its midst that invites lazy contemplation. When you enter the Daitoku-ji complex via the east (main) gate, it's on the left, just before Obai-in.
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Saimyō-Ji
This fine little temple is another one of our favourite spots in Kyoto. See if you can find your way around to the small waterfall at the side of the temple. The grotto here is pure magic. Located about five minutes upstream from the base of the steps that lead to Jingo-ji temple.
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Sanzen-In
Famed for its autumn foliage, hydrangea garden and stunning Buddha images, this temple is deservedly popular with foreign and domestic tourists alike.
Founded in 784 by the priest Saichō, Sanzen-in belongs to the Tendai school. Saichō, considered one of the great patriarchs of Buddhism in Japan, also founded Enryaku-ji.
The temple's garden, Yūsei-en, is one of the most photographed sights in Japan, and rightly so.
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Shimogamo-Jinja
A long strip of forest sandwiched between the two rivers in the north of the city, Shimogamo-jinja is, like the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, a good place to go when you need some space and greenery. While it's not worth a special trip, it's a nice place for a stroll if you find yourself in this part of town.
Shimogamo-jinja dates from the 8th century and is a Unesco World Heritage site.
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Shisen-Dō
Most travellers to Kyoto don't venture beyond Ginkaku-ji when exploring the northern reaches of Higashiyama, but there are several other worthwhile temples in this part of town, including Shisen-dō and Manshu-in. These two temples make a nice combination and are usually ignored by the masses who descend on Kyoto's more popular temples. Note that it's too far to walk here from Ginkaku-ji; consider a taxi or the bus.
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Shōren-In
This temple is hard to miss, with its giant camphor trees growing just outside the walls. Fortunately, many tourists manage to do just that, leaving the lovely garden relatively quiet, even when nearby attractions are mobbed.
Shōren-in, commonly called Awata Palace after the road it faces, was originally the residence of the chief abbot of the Tendai school. Founded in 1150, the present building dates from 1895 and the main hall has sliding screens with paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
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Shōrin-In
This temple is worth a look, even if only through its admission gate, to admire the thatched-roof of the main hall. It's also a good option if you're trying to avoid crowds.
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Takiguchi-Dera
The history of this temple reads like the romance of Romeo and Juliet . Takiguchi-dera was founded by Heian-era nobleman Takiguchi Nyūdō, who entered the priesthood after being forbidden by his father to marry his peasant consort Yokobue. One day, Yokobue came to the temple with her flute to serenade Takiguchi, but was again refused by him; she wrote a farewell love sonnet on a stone (in her own blood) before throwing herself into the river to perish. The stone remains at the temple.
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Tenju-An
A subtemple of Nanzen-ji, Tenju-an is located on the south side of San-mon, the main gate of Nanzen-ji. Constructed in 1337, Tenju-an has a splendid garden and a great collection of carp in its pond.
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Tenryū-Ji
This fine temple has one of the most attractive stroll gardens in all of Kyoto, particularly during the spring cherry-blossom and autumns-foliage seasons. The main 14th-century Zen garden, with its backdrop of the Arashiyama mountains, is a good example of shakkei . Unfortunately, it's no secret that the garden here is world class, so it pays to visit early in the morning or on a weekday.
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Tō-Ji
One of the main sights south of Kyoto Station, Tō-ji is an appealing complex of halls and a fantastic pagoda that makes a fine backdrop for the monthly flea market held on the grounds.
This temple was established in 794 by imperial decree to protect the city. In 823 the emperor handed it over to Kūkai (known posthumously as Kōbō Daishi), the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism. Many of the temple buildings were destroyed by fire or fighting during the 15th century.
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Tōfuku-Ji
Tōfuku-ji stands at the heart of a world of Zen temples and subtemples. It's one of our favourite temples in Kyoto and it's usually quite peaceful, except in the November autumn foliage season, when it becomes so crowded that we give it a miss.
Founded in 1236 by the priest Enni, Tōfuku-ji belongs to the Rinzai school. Since this temple was intended to compete with Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji in Nara, it was given a name combining characters in each of these.
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Togetsu-Kyō
This bridge is the dominant landmark in Arashiyama and is just a few minutes on foot from either the Keifuku line or Hankyū line Arashiyama Stations. The original crossing, constructed in 1606, was about 100m upriver from the present bridge.
On 13 April jūsan-mairi, an important rite of passage for local children aged 13, takes place here.
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Ujigami-Jinja Off
Ujigami-jinja holds the distinction of being Japan's oldest shrine. Despite its historical significance, the shrine is the least interesting of Kyoto's 17 Unesco World Heritage sites.
According to ancient records, Uji-no-waki-Iratsuko, a 5th-century prince, tragically sacrificed his own life to conclude the matter of whether he or his brother would succeed the imperial throne; needless to say his brother, Emperor Nintoku, won the dispute.
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Yasaka-Jinja
This colourful and spacious shrine is down the hill from Maruyama-kōen. It's considered the guardian shrine of Gion. The present buildings, with the exception of the older, two-storey west gate, date from 1654. The granite torii on the south side was erected in 1666 and stands 9.5m high, making it one of the tallest in Japan. The roof of the main shrine is covered with cypress shingles. Among the treasures here are a pair of carved wooden koma-inu attributed to the renowned sculptor Unkei.
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Zuihō-In
A subtemple of Daitoku-ji, Zuihō-in enshrines the 16th-century Christian daimyō (domain lord), Ōtomo Sōrin. In the early 1960s, a landscape architect named Shigemori Misuzu rearranged the stones in the back rock garden into the shape of a crucifix! More interesting is the main rock garden, which is raked into appealing patterns that remind one of water ripples. It's roughly in the middle of the complex; once again, you may have to ask for directions.
