The picturesque city of Kyoto, Japan, is known for its beautiful gardens, temples, palaces and other traditional buildings. We’ve narrowed down the list of our favorite temples in Kyoto.
Kinkakuji
The Zen Buddhist temple is one of the most popular and most visited in Japan. The three-story building is decorated in gold leaf for a stunning appearance. The temple is also known as Rokuon-ji, which translates to “deer garden temple.”
Nanzenji
This Zen Buddhist temple features sprawling grounds, with numerous smaller temples separated by beautiful gardens, streams, waterfalls, trees and marked trails. Cherry blossoms bloom in the spring, and the trees boast red and orange leaves in the fall.
Saiho-ji
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Zen Buddhist temple is partially hidden by a moss garden. It’s commonly referred to as Koke-dera, or “moss temple.”
Sanjusangen-do
The temple features more than 1,000 statues of goddesses in the halls. Photography is not permitted inside the temple, open daily for visitors.
Tenryu-ji
One of the most iconic temples in Kyoto, Tenryu-ji is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The picturesque temple interacts with the surrounding natural landscapes. There are numerous buildings on the grounds.
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