Temples and shrines in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji and hundreds more — which temples and shrines are worth the entry fee, and how to avoid the crowds.
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Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari & Gion Geisha District
Kyoto: Kiyomizudera & Gion Walking Tour with History Teacher
Kyoto: Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama and Yasaka Discovery Tour
Kyoto: Crowd-Free Tour of Kiyomizu & Ginkaku-ji Temples
Early morning Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera to Gion Historical Tour
Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha Guided Walking Tour
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ViatorHiroshima and Miyajima Day Trip with Itsukushima Shrine & Ferry
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ViatorKiyomizu Temple and Backstreets of Gion, Half Day Group Tour
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ViatorKyoto: Zen Meditation at a Private Temple with a Monk
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ViatorKyoto: Fushimi Inari Hidden Hike (Private)
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The best Shinto shrines in Kyoto
Kyoto's essential Shinto shrines — Fushimi Inari, Yasaka, Heian, Shimogamo and Kamigamo — admission, etiquette, shrine vs temple.
The best temples in Kyoto — how to actually prioritize
How to prioritize Kyoto's temples on 1, 2 or 3 days — which combined tickets exist, and which famous names are worth the crowds.
Fushimi Inari guide — 10,000 torii gates and the Mount Inari hike
A practical guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha's torii gate tunnels — free entry, the 2-3 hour Mount Inari hike, Senbon Torii, fox ema
Ginkaku-ji guide — the Silver Pavilion's sand garden and moss
A practical guide to Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto's Silver Pavilion — the Sea of Silver Sand dry garden, moss-covered grounds, real admission price, hours
Kinkaku-ji guide — the Golden Pavilion, mirror pond & Ryoan-ji pairing
A practical guide to Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto's Golden Pavilion — real admission price, hours, the gold-leaf construction, the mirror pond garden
Kiyomizu-dera guide — the wooden stage, Otowa waterfall & illuminations
A practical guide to Kiyomizu-dera — the wooden stage, the Otowa waterfall, Jishu-jinja, real admission prices, hours, access
Kyoto's 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, explained
The 17 sites of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto listing — which are in Kyoto, Uji and Otsu, and how to actually see them.
Nanzen-ji — Kyoto's highest-ranked Zen temple
Nanzen-ji's Sanmon gate, the brick Suirokaku aqueduct, and its Zen sub-temple gardens — admission, hours, and how it connects to the Philosopher's Path.
Ryoan-ji guide — the fifteen-stone dry garden and its meaning
A practical guide to Ryoan-ji's famous fifteen-stone dry garden — real admission price, hours, the different interpretations of the stone layout
Sanjusangendo — the hall of 1,001 Kannon statues
Sanjusangendo's 1,001 Kannon statues and 120-metre wooden hall — admission, hours, the Toshiya archery contest, and how to see it without the crowds.
Tenryu-ji guide — Arashiyama's world heritage Zen temple
A practical guide to Tenryu-ji, Arashiyama's UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple — the Sogenchi garden, real admission prices, hours, the bamboo grove exit
Tofuku-ji — autumn maples and Shigemori's modern gardens
Tofuku-ji's Tsutenkyo bridge over 2,000 maples and Shigemori Mirei's modern zen garden — admission, autumn crowds, and nearby Fushimi Inari.