For more than one thousand years, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan. The ancient city is steeped in history, which is apparent around every corner. Kyoto contains a unique mix of modern and traditional Japanese culture, and therefore is a very popular tourist destination in Japan. There are hundreds of shrines, temples, and other sights that visitors can visit, and it’s impossible to visit them all. Here are some of my absolute favorites sites from Kyoto, and what I think are the definite must-sees!
1) Sanjusandgen-do
Sanjusandgen-do was an unforgettable experience for a nerd like me. The temple itself is about 850 years old, and contains over a thousand Buddhist statues. One thousand painstakingly detailed life-sized statues of the deity Kannon are lined up in an impressive formation. Each of these statues has forty arms, and are covered in gold leaf. These one thousand Kannon, derived from the Hindu goddess of mercy, stand in formations on either side of an enormous, 11 foot tall Kannon with a thousand arms. This statue is the main deity of Sanjusangend-do, and a designated national treasure of Japan. Worshippers make offering of incense and set out candles with prayers written on them in front of the giant Kannon, as well as other statues in the temple, including those of the 28 guardian deities. In front of each guardian deity is are explanations in English and Japanese for those like me, who are interested in learning about the history of the statues Sanjusangen-do.
2) Chishaku-in
Just a couple blocks from Sanjusangen-do lies a beautiful temple complex called Chishaku-in. Also known as Sohonzanchishakuin, this is an important temple for the Shingon sect of Buddhism, and a training school for monks. Compared to Sanjusandgen-do and a few other places on this list, it is a quieter and less touristy site. The grounds include the temple itself, a old traditional house that you can tour, and a very small museum with beautiful painted walls by the famous artist Hasegawa Tohaku and his students, who lived during the 1500-1600’s. As you walk around the beautiful garden behind the main temple, you may be able to hear the sound of monks reciting sutras inside.
3) Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha, a large and beautiful Shinto shrine complex, has the potential to take up a big portion of your day. There are so many places to explore on the Inari Mountain. The main gate to the shrine is right across the street from the Inari train station, only two stops away from Kyoto Station on the Nara train line, making it very easy to access and find if you are in the Kyoto area. Another perk is that the shrine is free to enter, unlike many popular sites in Kyoto. For only the price of the train ticket (140 yen, or about $1.40 dollars each way) from Kyoto Station, you can visit the historic site and explore the mountain. The Main Shrine is located at the bottom of the mountain, as is other smaller shrines and shops. To climb to the top of the mountain under tunnels of the red tori gates, it takes an hour or two, but there also other places to see if you’re not up for the climb. Along the main trail, as well as on other less-populated trails on the mountain, there are thousands of little shrines, both old and new, that reflect the sacredness and importance of Fushimi Inari. My personal recommendation is to first take the steepest side path to the right after entering the second tori tunnel. The path is only steep for a minute or two, and then opens up into a quiet bamboo forest, eventually leading to a beautiful and old collection of little shrines gathered together in a place less often visited by tourists.
4) Kiyomizudera
Kiyomizudera is such an important temple that is has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was founded in the 700’s, and the buildings presently in use have been around since 1633. Kiyomizudera offers beautiful architecture, waterfalls, gorgeous views, and forest paths in a unique and popular destination on the side of a mountain. The Otowa waterfall is said to have wish-granting effects if temple-goers take a drink from it. The popularity of this historic site has resulted lines of little shops along the streets leading up the mountain to the temple, convenient for tourists who want to shop before or after visiting the religious site.
5) Nijo Castle
A visit to Nijo Castle may take a couple hours at most, but there’s a lot to see. You can tour the 400 year old castle itself, and get bits and pieces of history while seeing rooms and beautiful traditional artwork. This landmark has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While touring the castle, you can read explanations of what each room you see was used for, such as living quarters, meeting rooms for important visitors, and receiving rooms for messengers from the emperor. The surrounding gardens are also beautiful, and include a moat, a lookout point with a great view, and another smaller palace.
These sites are open to the public because they are beautiful pieces of history and Japanese culture. However, it’s important to remember that they were not created for the purpose of entertaining tourists. Locals often come to these places to worship, and go about their daily lives. That means that visitors must be as respectful as possible. Take off your shoes before entering the inside of temples and houses, look out for signs that tell you not to take pictures, and always listen to the people who work there. Even if you don’t understand a custom, going to a country to observe a different culture means you must respect that culture. Only if the culture is respected, can tourists and travelers continue to visit these places.
These beautiful temples, shrines, castles, and houses are great places to see bits of the history of ancient Japan while still being aware of the current culture. Alongside the many places to visit in Kyoto, Japan’s “1,000 year capital,” these five are what I recommend to visitors the most.
