Theme · kyoto world heritage
The 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto' UNESCO World Heritage listing includes 17 sites, 15 within Kyoto City. With area-based grouping you can visit nearly all of them in three days. Here's how, with historical context for each.
清水寺
Founded 778. The National Treasure Main Hall's wooden stage is iconic.
Founded in 780 with the support of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro and established by the monk Enchin, Kiyomizu-dera has a remarkably long history — it even appears in T…
金閣寺
Rokuonji. Built by 3rd Ashikaga shogun Yoshimitsu.
The quintessential Kyoto landmark — everyone knows it. Its formal name is Rokuon-ji. It started as the Kitayama-dono villa, built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397…
銀閣寺
Jishoji. Built by 8th Ashikaga shogun Yoshimasa; symbol of Higashiyama culture.
Ginkaku-ji began as the mountain retreat that Ashikaga Yoshimasa built in Higashiyama in 1482. After Yoshimasa's death, it was converted into a Rinzai Zen templ…
龍安寺
Famous Zen rock garden (karesansui).
Founded in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto, with Giten Gensho of Myoshin-ji as the founding abbot. Ryoan-ji is famous for its rock garden, one of the most iconic in…
仁和寺
Imperial 'Omuro' temple. Known for the late-blooming Omuro cherries.
Also known as the Ninna-ji Monzeki or Omuro Gosho (Omuro Imperial Palace). One of Kyoto's most representative temples — it appears multiple times in the Tsurezu…
天龍寺
Sogenchi Garden designed by Muso Soseki — Japan's first Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
The head temple of the Rinzai Tenryu-ji school. Its full formal name is Reikisan Tenryu Shisei Zenji. The principal images are Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha)…
下鴨神社
Kamomioya Jinja. The Tadasu-no-Mori forest is within the precincts.
One of Kyoto's oldest shrines, dedicated to the gods of bountiful harvests. The two enshrined deities are Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto and Kamotaketsunomi-no-mikoto.…
上賀茂神社
Kamowakeikazuchi Jinja. The starting point of the Aoi Matsuri.
Along with Shimogamo Jinja, one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. Between the first and second torii gates, a lawn stretches out with the shrine buildings standin…
東寺
Kyoogokokuji. Its five-story pagoda is Japan's tallest wooden pagoda.
History of To-ji: The head temple of the Toji Shingon sect. Construction began around the same time Kukai departed for Tang China in 804. In 823, To-ji was gran…
西本願寺
Mieido and Amida-do halls — early Edo-period Jodo Shinshu head temple.
Founded by Kakushin-ni, the daughter of Shinran Shonin. The head temple of the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) sect. The Goeido (Founder's Hall) has stood since i…
二条城
Tokugawa shogunate stronghold in Kyoto; site of the 1867 restoration of imperial rule.
Built in 1603 as lodging for the shogun's visits to Kyoto, this castle also served as the military headquarters during both the Summer and Winter Sieges of Osak…
平等院
The Phoenix Hall is the design on the 10-yen coin. Built by Fujiwara no Yorimichi.
Originally the villa of Minamoto no Toru, it later became Fujiwara no Michinaga's retreat before his son Fujiwara no Yorimichi converted it into a temple. The P…
17 sites comprise the 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto' listing — 15 in Kyoto City, plus one each in Uji and Otsu (Shiga).
By geographic grouping: Rakuhoku (Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Ninnaji) — 3 sites; Higashiyama (Kiyomizudera, Ginkakuji) plus Shimogamo — 3 sites; Rakunan (Toji, Nishi-Honganji, Nijo Castle) — 3 sites; plus Tenryuji and Kosanji in the west.
Roughly ¥400–¥600 per site, totaling about ¥8,000–¥10,000 for all sites.
Saihoji (Moss Temple) requires advance application by return postcard. Check the official site for current requirements.