The 7 Best Shrines & Temples in Kyoto You MUST Visit 2026

I really have to say, the main reason I am so obsessed with Kyoto is its traditional, historical charm. It has such a calm, cultural vibe, especially when you compare it to the chaos of Tokyo or Osaka.

A huge part of that feeling definitely comes from the crazy amount of absolutely beautiful temples everywhere. I’m a massive fan of Japanese architecture, so I was honestly able to spend days and days just exploring and visiting the best shrines and temples in Kyoto.

I definitely visited my fair share while I was there. I went from the super famous and popular temples like Fushimi Inari Shrine (the one with the thousands of red torii gates) to hidden gems that I personally just loved because they were so peaceful, like Jojakko-ji Temple.

I know from my own experience that looking up the best temples in Kyoto can be super confusing. Trying to figure out which ones are actually worth your time and which ones aren’t is a lot!

That’s why I decided to create this guide with my top 7 shrines and temples. I wanted to keep the list short because giving you a list of 25 temples doesn’t really help anyone, so here are my absolute favorites.

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The 7 Best Shrines & Temples in Kyoto You MUST Visit 2026

What Are The Best Shrines & Temples in Kyoto – My Experience

Before I even arrived in Kyoto, I’d already done an insane amount of research on the “must-sees.” I felt this weird pressure to make the absolute most of my Japan trip, so I put an unhealthy amount of time into planning.

I realized pretty quickly that about 80% of the top things to do involve visiting shrines and temples and there are literally hundreds and thousands of them.

I do love shrines and temples, and I have to admit that the ones in Kyoto are some of the most beautiful in all of Japan. However, I also didn’t want to feel like I was just checking boxes. I didn’t want to go from temple to temple to temple for four days straight. I knew I’d get “templed out” and sick of it if I overdid it.

So, I narrowed it down to a few of the major ones I really wanted to see, but I also left room to just randomly wander and explore. I am so glad I did that, because some of my absolute favorites turned out to be the ones that are way less popular.

Even though I recommend all seven temples on this list, there are two that I loved the most. It’s not because they were the biggest or most famous, but just because I loved the atmosphere there.

Those two are Ginkaku-ji and Jojakko-ji. Both have beautiful gardens and are so quiet and peaceful. When I visited, it wasn’t busy at all, maybe because they’re both a little out of the way, but I can’t recommend them enough!

What is the Difference Between Shrines and Temples?

I know some of you might not care about the technicalities, but I figured I’d throw in a little bit of context and education here!

This is actually something I only learned once I got to Kyoto; I had no idea before my tour guide explained it to me during a day trip.

Basically, Shrines are for the Shinto religion. You’ll recognize them by those iconic red torii gates at the entrance. Shinto is the indigenous faith of Japan, and it’s all about believing in spirits (kami) and ancestors, which I think is just so cool and interesting.

On the flip side, Temples are Buddhist. You’ll see statues of Buddha inside, and the architecture is a bit different. A great little hack my guide taught me: look at the name! If it ends in -ji (like Jojakko-ji), it’s almost always a Buddhist temple. If it ends in -sha or -gu, it’s a Shinto shrine (though you’ll also see -dera used for some famous temples too!).

Fun fact: Shrines are usually free to enter, which is amazing. For the Buddhist temples, you’ll almost always have to pay a small entrance fee. Usually, it’s between $3 USD and $7 USD, but the most expensive one I encountered was about $10 USD for a ticket.

Book Here: Sightseeing Tour Around Kyoto

1. Hokan-Ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)

The Hokan-ji Temple, or as most people know it, the Yasaka Pagoda, is easily one of the most picturesque and photographed spots in all of Kyoto. I mean, it is gorgeous! It’s so iconic that I actually committed to getting up super early just to beat the crowds.

Sometimes I just want cool pictures of myself without a sea of tourists in the background, okay? For me, it was 100% worth dragging myself out of bed to get there by 7:00 AM because now I have a shot with literally no one else in it.

The pagoda is located in a super cute, very traditional neighborhood. While you’re there, you have to check out Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. They are two famous, pretty roads with cobblestones and old traditional houses that are definitely worth checking out!

My Tip: Kiyomizu-dera (one of the most famous temples in Kyoto) is only about a 15-minute walk from here. I visited the Yasaka Pagoda first and then just wandered over to Kiyomizu-dera. Since it was still early, there were barely any crowds there either! I definitely recommend doing these two back-to-back since they’re so close to each other.

Book Here: Sightseeing Tour Around Kyoto

2. Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha, or just the Fushimi Inari Shrine, is probably the most famous shrine in Kyoto, maybe even in all of Japan. It’s the one everyone knows for those endless rows of red torii gates that lead all the way up the hill.

I actually had a guide for the day here, which I think was a total game-changer. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have learned much since it is a shrine, not a museum. Our guide knew everything! For example, those torii gates are actually donations from people and companies, so the writing on them is just their names. The whole shrine is dedicated to rice and business. If you’re actually interested in the background stuff and not just the photos, I definitely recommend getting a guide.

We managed to hike all the way through the gates to the top and back down, which took us about two hours. I thought I was being so smart by showing up around 4:00 PM to avoid the crowds, but nope, it was still pretty busy. Honestly, I think the only time you’re ever going to see this place empty is if you show up right at sunrise.

3. Kiyomizu-Dera

Kiyomizu-dera is another beautiful temple I mentioned earlier, it’s the one I walked to right after I finished at the Yasaka Pagoda.

This temple is built onto the side of a small mountain overlooking the city, and it has a beautiful massive wooden terrace out front. The views over Kyoto from up there are absolutely amazing, and I’m pretty sure that’s what the temple is most famous for.

Fun fact: The entire thing is built out of wood without using a single nail. It’s all held together by interlocking joints, which is actually pretty crazy when you’re standing on it!

I specifically visited Kiyomizu-dera in November because I’d seen pictures of the incredible fall foliage here.

Unfortunately, I was a little too early, so I only got a few hints of red and orange. Even without the full autumn colors, the temple complex is huge, with walkways through the woods and other smaller pagodas scattered around. It’s beautiful anyway, but I can only imagine how stunning it looks during peak foliage!

4. Ginkaku-Ji

Potentially my very favorite temple in Kyoto is Ginkaku-ji, which is also known as the Silver Pavilion.

To be honest, at the time I visited, I hadn’t even heard of it, nor did I realize it was actually a pretty popular spot. I just happened to be staying in a cute little traditional Japanese house just down the road from it, so I decided to wander over one morning.

I loved it so much! I was pretty much the only person there, which made the whole experience so much better. The temple itself is small but beautiful, but the Zen gardens surrounding it are just stunning and so peaceful.

It’s definitely one of my favorite places I visited while in Kyoto. It’s interesting because it wasn’t even the biggest or most “impressive” temple in the traditional sense, but the calm energy there was just as impressive to me as any huge building. If you want a break from the crowds, this is the place.

5. Jojakko-Ji Temple

My second favorite temple in Kyoto is Jojakko-ji Temple, which I literally just stumbled upon. It’s located right next to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, which, to be honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan of.

In fact, I’d say the famous bamboo forest is a little overrated, but being underwhelmed by it led me to go wander and explore, which is how I found Jojakko-ji.

The temple is built into a hillside with a small pagoda on top, a stream running through it, and beautiful gardens to explore. It’s not one of the “mainstream” popular temples, so it was super quiet. I spent ages just wandering around there; I absolutely loved it.

I highly recommend coming here if you’re already planning on visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, as it’s only about a 10-minute walk from there.

6. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple is becoming more famous because it’s such a great alternative to the main Kyoto bamboo forest.

Like I said, I personally think the famous Arashiyama forest is overrun and overrated, but this temple is only about a 20-minute walk from there and way less touristy. It’s a beautiful temple and it even has its own mini bamboo forest!

I did go to the Arashiyama forest first, and from there I walked over to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji. It was actually a really beautiful walk, and since I stumbled across Jojakko-ji on the way, I recommend you do the same. If you only visit the famous bamboo forest and leave, I honestly don’t think the trip out there is worth it.

7. Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine is right in the middle of downtown Kyoto and definitely one of the easiest to reach. It’s right next to Gion and the Geisha district. We actually went to this one at night, or at least after dinner, because someone told me that’s the best time to visit since all the lanterns are lit up. And yeah, it’s pretty cool!

I wouldn’t necessarily say Yasaka Shrine is a “must-see” compared to some of the others, but it’s a beautiful shrine, super easy to get to, and looks great at night with the lanterns. Since you’ll likely be in the Gion area anyway, you might as well pop in.

FAQs About the Best Kyoto Temples

What are the best things to do in Kyoto?

My favorite things to do in Kyoto were definitely visiting all the temples because that is what the city is known for. Kyoto has so many beautiful shrines and temples; I literally spent days seeing them, and that traditional vibe is exactly why I fell in love with the place.

What is the best temple in Kyoto to visit?

It’s hard for me to say which one is the “best,” but my personal favorite was probably Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion). The gardens and the grounds were just so beautiful and peaceful, especially compared to some of the more crowded spots.

Is Fushimi Inari Shrine worth visiting?

I’d say it is! It’s pretty impressive seeing hundreds of red torii gates set on the side of a mountain, and walking all the way up was actually a nice workout. I definitely recommend coming here early, around sunrise, if you want to avoid the massive crowds.

What are the best things to do in Kyoto with kids?

I’ve always said that Kyoto isn’t necessarily the best place for kids’ activities just because it’s very culture-heavy, but a day trip to Nara to feed the deer was super fun, and I bet kids would love that.

Final Thoughts on the Best Shrines & Temples in Kyoto Japan

To wrap it all up, I would definitely recommend every temple and shrine on this list!

However, there are way, way more out there, Kyoto has around 2,000 temples and shrines combined, which is insane. There are some other super famous ones, like Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), which is incredibly popular, but honestly, I didn’t think it was worth it, so I didn’t even put it on my list.

Also, as much as I love the culture, I made sure to keep things mixed during my trip. I did a food tour, went shopping, and even did a tea ceremony.

I just didn’t want to spend every single day in Kyoto only visiting temples because I knew I would get “templed out.” Unless you are super into them, I recommend picking the few you think are the coolest and then mixing things up with other activities!