5 Must-Visit Temples and Shrines for First-Timers in Kyoto 1. Kiyomizudera (清水寺) 📍 294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. 🕘 6:00–18:00 (varies by season) 💰 ¥400 Famous for its wooden stage offering breathtaking views of Kyoto. 2. Kinkakuji (金閣寺) 📍 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto. 🕘 9:00–17:00 💰 ¥500 The iconic Golden Pavilion is stunning year-round, reflected in its tranquil pond. 3. Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) 📍 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. 🕘 Open 24/7 💰 Free Known for its endless red torii gates, it’s perfect for scenic hikes. 4. Nanzenji (南禅寺) 📍 Nanzenji Fukuchicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. 🕘 8:40–17:00 (Dec–Feb: 8:40–16:30) 💰 ¥500 for Hojo Garden (main temple free) A peaceful Zen temple with a historic aqueduct. 5. Kifune Shrine (貴船神社) 📍 180 Kurama Kibune-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. 🕘 9:00–16:30 (varies by season) 💰 Free Nestled in the mountains, it’s a serene escape, especially during summer and autumn. #kyoto #kyotoguide #kyototemples #kyotoshrines #japantravel #kyototravel #firsttimekyoto
Attraction
Kiyomizu-dera
Place of worship
4.5
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda.
Kinkaku-ji
Place of worship
4.5
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Place of worship
4.6
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates.
Nanzen-ji Temple
Place of worship
4.5
Stately Buddhist temple complex with a Zen garden, forested grounds & walking paths.
Nanzenji Tenju-an
Place of worship
4.5
Buddhist temple with a koi pond & picturesque gardens that are most popular during the fall.
Kifune Shrine
Place of worship
4.4
Intimate Shinto shrine with a verdant mountainside setting, reached by a lantern-lined path.
Activity/Tour
Otagi Nenbutsu Temple and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Tour
Activity