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Planning a trip to Kyoto and wondering which temples are actually worth visiting?
With more than 1,600 temples across the city, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, or worse, “templed out”. We know the feeling – we’ve been there! After a few stops, even the most iconic shrines can start to blur together if you try to fit too many into one trip. It’s no surprise Kyoto is so celebrated – in 1994, several of its temples and gardens were collectively recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. That is why this guide focuses on the must visit temples in Kyoto, without trying to see everything.
My husband and I visited dozens of temples during our time in Kyoto. Some were beautiful, others overcrowded, and a few that left a lasting impression. In this guide, we share our personal top 10. It’s a carefully chosen mix of what we believe are Kyoto’s must-see temples. It’s a mix of famous shrines and peaceful places that offer history, beauty, and cultural meaning without leaving you exhausted or over it by day two.
We hope our guide can help you experience the city’s rich culture without burnout. These are the temples we believe strike the perfect balance. And yes, we’ve personally visited every one of them.
If there’s one temple in Kyoto that lives up to the hype, it’s Fushimi Inari Shrine. It’s famous for its thousands of vermilion-orange torii gates weaving up Mount Inari. That’s what makes this Shinto shrine one of Japan’s most iconic cultural landmarks.
We visited early one morning. We were hoping to beat the crowds so I could get some photos of the gates without anyone in them. What I may have forgotten to mention to my husband, Darren, was that we’d be climbing to the summit. It’s a climb of 80 flights of stairs through winding forest trails, before breakfast. Oops.
Luckily, he took it in stride (after a few jokes about trying to book a helicopter ride back down). Before 8:30am, we were standing at the top with the mountain virtually to ourselves. We got to enjoy stunning views over Kyoto and the quiet of the shrine path before the tour buses rolled in.
The hike itself is part of the experience. You pass under thousands of rows of torii gates (known as Senbon Torii, or “thousands of gates”). During the hike, you’ll find moss-covered stone fox statues (messengers of the Shinto god Inari), smaller shrines, and tea houses. You don’t need to do the full loop to appreciate the magic, but we’re glad we did.
If you’re an early riser or simply want to see Fushimi Inari without the crowds, aim to arrive before 7:30am. And maybe give your travel partner a little more warning than I did.
Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, is one of Kyoto’s most recognisable landmarks – and it’s easy to see why. The temple’s top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf, reflecting beautifully in the surrounding pond. It’s picture-perfect, but also incredibly popular.
We arrived just before lunch, and it was already packed. The best vantage points for photographing the pavilion were swarming with visitors. Luckily, Darren is over six feet tall, so he was able to hold the camera high and capture some crowd-free shots for us.
But there’s more to Kinkaku-ji than just the golden reflection. We spent a few hours wandering through the landscaped gardens that wrap around the temple grounds. The paths led us through peaceful mossy groves, koi ponds, and small shrines. We even stopped at a traditional tea house tucked away behind the main pavilion for a quiet cup of matcha.
Despite the crowds, Kinkaku-ji is absolutely worth seeing. Just try to visit early in the day or later in the afternoon if you want better light and a little more breathing room.
Kiyomizu-dera is one of Kyoto’s most visited temples, and once you see it in person, it’s easy to understand why. You’ll find the temple perched on a hillside in the Higashiyama district. The huge wooden stage extends from the main hall, with sweeping views over the city.
The steep walk up to the temple takes you through a bustling market. It’s packed with souvenir stalls and traditional snacks. We spent time browsing, soaking in the atmosphere, and trying a few treats before reaching the top. It made the climb feel more like an adventure than a chore.
By the time we reached the temple, the grounds were already buzzing with visitors. But the energy added to the experience rather than taking away from it. Many of the visitors were in traditional dress, adding to the atmosphere. The temple complex is large enough to find quieter corners. If you want a moment of peace, take a walk on the trails beyond the main hall.
Standing on the temple’s iconic veranda, built without a single nail, looking out over the city, is the highlight of the visit. It’s one of those views that really stays with you. Once we’d soaked up the view, we strolled back down through the old streets. We stopped for ice cream and took our time enjoying one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric neighbourhoods.
Enko-ji is one of Kyoto’s more peaceful hidden gems. Tucked away in the northern part of the city, it’s often missed by tourists. But that’s exactly what makes it so special.
We visited in autumn, and the colours were absolutely stunning. The maple trees around the temple grounds were beautiful reds and oranges. Take time to appreciate the Zen garden’s perfectly raked gravel. It’s worth stopping to sit on the veranda for a while, just to take it all in.
The garden is a highlight, but it’s not the only one. We slowly wandered the paths, admiring the moss-covered stones and stopping at the temple’s “borrowed scenery” window, a natural frame for the beautiful autumn colours.
Before leaving, we followed the trail up the small mountain behind the temple. The short walk rewarded us with incredible views back over Kyoto, especially with the autumn foliage in full display. It was quiet, peaceful, and one of our favourite moments from this part of the city.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a more contemplative experience, Enko-ji is absolutely worth the trip.
Tenryu-ji is a must if you’re spending time in Arashiyama, especially in autumn. The temple is known for its beautiful grounds, and it’s also next to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, making it easy to pair the two on one visit.
We visited in autumn, and the temple gardens were easily one of our favourites. After walking a lot that day, the sacred garden gave us the perfect excuse to slow down. We found a spot to sit, rest our feet, and admire the landscape, with its carefully placed rocks, pond, and seasonal colour.
Tenryu-ji has a calmer feel than some of Kyoto’s more famous temples. Arashiyama can get busy, but most people head straight for the Bamboo Grove, so the temple grounds feel noticeably quieter. The garden is the kind of place that encourages you to slow down rather than rush through for a quick photo.
If you’re visiting Arashiyama, make sure Tenryu-ji is part of your plan. It’s the perfect place to slow down after the crowds in the rest of the area, especially around the Bamboo Grove.
Yasaka Shrine is right in the heart of the Gion area, and it’s one of those places that feels woven into everyday Kyoto life. It’s lively, easy to visit, and a great stop if you’re exploring the historic streets nearby.
For us, Yasaka Shrine was worth seeing both during the day and at night because it has a completely different feel once the sun goes down. We were staying close to the shrine, which made it easy to pop in during the day and then come back later in the evening. In daylight, it’s a beautiful stop with plenty to look at, and a good place to pause between sightseeing. At night, though, it becomes something else entirely. With the lanterns lit, everything feels softer and more magical, and the shrine takes on a quieter, almost timeless feel.
If you can, visit twice. Pop in during the day while you’re exploring Gion, then come back in the evening when the lanterns are lit. It’s one of the easiest ways to get two very different Kyoto cultural experiences from the same stop.
Chion-in is another Kyoto temple that feels completely different at different times of day. Like Yasaka Shrine, we visited during the day and then returned at night to take photos once everything was lit up.
Make sure you don’t miss the Chionin Sanmon Gate while you’re here. It’s enormous, and walking through it feels like a proper “welcome to Kyoto” moment. We entered through the gate, visited the temple grounds, and then made our way across to Yasaka Shrine.
One of the best things about visiting Chion-in is how easy it is to combine with Yasaka. They sit within the same large complex area, so you can visit both in one outing without crisscrossing the city. It’s ideal if you want to see them in daylight, then come back later for a second visit at night when the lanterns and lighting completely change the mood.
Ryozen Kannon is definitely different from the other temples you’ll visit in Kyoto. It’s a modern-built temple, and that contrast is part of what makes it worth seeing. The standout feature is the 24-meter-high statue of Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, which you can spot looking out over the city.
After a few days of historic temples, this was a welcome change. It gave us a different view of Kyoto but still felt peaceful and reflective.
It’s also very easy to fit into your day because it’s not far from Yasaka Shrine and Chion-in. If you have the time and energy, you can simply walk to it from those temples, which makes it a great add-on without needing to jump on public transport.
If you’re looking for something a little different to break up your Kyoto temple visits, Ryozen Kannon is a good choice.
Chugen-ji is a little temple you could easily walk past if you were not paying attention. It’s literally “blink, and you’ll miss it”. That is part of its charm.
It can also be a bit tricky to find, so it helps to have the address handy: 585 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto.
It’s small, quiet, and feels like a genuine slice of everyday Kyoto rather than a big tourist stop. We loved it as a reset between the larger, more famous temples. Even though the streets around it can be busy, the moment you step inside, everything softens and slows down.
If you’re feeling a bit templed out, Chugen-ji is the kind of place that reminds you why you started visiting temples in the first place. It’s simple, peaceful, and worth a quick stop if you are nearby.
This one is a two-for-one, and we really wanted to visit both. Kennin-ji is known as the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, and nearby Kodai-ji is another beautiful Zen temple well worth adding to the same walk.
For us, this visit was not just about seeing two more temples. It was about standing there and realising just how old these places are. It’s one thing to read a date on a sign, and it’s another thing entirely to walk through the gates, hear your footsteps on the stone, and think about how many generations have stood in the exact same spot.
Kennin-ji has a calm, grounded feel that makes you naturally lower your voice and slow down. Kodai-ji feels more like a place to wander. The gardens are a highlight, and it’s an easy temple to enjoy at an unhurried pace, especially if you’ve had a big day of sightseeing.
If you’re staying around Gion or Higashiyama, these two fit together beautifully and make a memorable finish to a Kyoto temple day.
Kyoto has more temples than you could ever see in one trip, and trying to squeeze in too many is the quickest way to get “templed out”. What worked best for us was choosing a mix of places that each felt different, so every stop stayed memorable instead of blending into the next.
The famous temples are famous for a reason. Places like Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji, and Kiyomizu-dera deliver those classic Kyoto moments that most people dream about. They can be busy, but with good timing, they are absolutely worth it.
Then there are the tranquil temples that slow you down. These are the places where you sit on a veranda, admire the gardens, rest your feet, and actually feel Kyoto rather than rushing through it. Enko-ji was a perfect example of this for us, especially in autumn.
Finally, do not overlook the quieter, less talked-about stops. Temples like Ryozen Kannon and Chugen-ji are different to the main tourist circuit, and that is exactly the point. They break up the rhythm of “big sight after big sight” and remind you that Kyoto’s spiritual side isn’t only found in the headline attractions.
Hi, I’m Lisa Bundesen - the voice behind The Middle Age Wanderer. I’m a retired chartered accountant turned passionate traveller and photographer. Alongside my husband Darren (and with our two fur babies waiting at home in Australia), we explore the world one adventure at a time.
I’ve travelled to over 35 countries, and I created this blog to inspire fellow travellers in their 50s, 60s, and beyond to embrace adventure. Whether it’s hiking ancient trails, diving into new cultures, or sipping wine in scenic places, I believe life after 50 is the perfect time to explore more.
Here, you’ll find honest travel advice, destination guides, and real stories to help you travel smarter and with more confidence - because age is not a barrier, it’s an invitation.
Hi, I’m Lisa, a 50+ retired chartered accountant. My husband, Darren, and I explore the world every opportunity we get. Staying fit is key to our adventures, from hiking the Inca Trail to scuba diving. We call Australia home but travel overseas often, always eager to discover new cultures, bustling cities, cuisines, nature and wildlife.
We would love you to join us on our journeys and hope that our adventures give you encouragement to explore this amazing world.
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