Ancient Kyoto
The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) formed the center of Japanese culture for a thousand years.
Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from 794 to 1869. Its wealth and importance are reflected in the religious wooden architecture and the landscaped gardens. Especially its garden architecture has had a profound influence worldwide.
Community Perspective: opinions differ about which temple is the ‘best’, although Byôdô-in Uji and the Golden Temple are often named. Every temple also has a spectacular garden and Kyoto overall is a perfect introduction to Japanese culture, architecture and food. Consider renting a bike if you want to do a fair number of the 17 inscribed sites in a day.
Map of Ancient Kyoto
Load mapCommunity Reviews
Elena Y
Across a week in Kyoto I hit up nine of the sites making up this World Heritage Site. Of those, only Saiho-ji has escaped comment on this site. It was one of my must-do sites and didn't disappoint. Until recently (I suspect being part of the reason it's been avoided by this community) visitors have had to send a postcard to the temple, but this has fortunately changed in recent years to allow online booking. I procrastinated until a few nights before and was still able to get a slot that worked for me, though the early time did necessitate getting a taxi all the way from Higashiyama. Entry is linked to a timed slot, but once you get in you have a fair bit of freedom. In the main hall you're provided with a sutra and a calligraphy brush with which to trace. It's a very soothing experience and I was able to enjoy the spiritual angle a bit deeper than in other elements of the WHS. With that done you can pass back through the main hall, get a surprisingly quirky goshuin if that's your thing (I recommend it, it's an art book and diary of your religious visits all in one!), and then proceed to the famous moss garden. It goes without saying that it's absolutely beautiful, especially whenever the sun cuts through the branches of the trees and bounces against the central shallow lake.
Quickly covering the other sites I visited - Kinkaku-ji is the one site I felt was actually ruined by overtouristing, as beautiful as it is. Its cousin Ginkaku-ji is both less visited and offers a larger area to walk around in. They do, nonetheless, make for a nice comparative pair of temples. Kiyomizu-dera's tourist problem is alleviated by a large back half where the visitors taper off drastically, but its wide verandas mean that it never feels that suffocating to begin with. Byodo-in is beautiful and deserves its monetary recognition (when I was in Tokyo, I enjoyed visiting the banknote museum in Oji which hosted several versions of the note that the temple's two famous bird statues appear on, as well as several appearances of nearby WHS Horyu-ji), though I do wish I had've leapt for one of the time slots that allowed entry into the main hall. Nearby is Ujigami, which is probably the most humble component, especially whenever you've just walked from Byodo-in! It's pleasant, relatively secluded, and easy to mix up with the non-WHS Uji shrine nearby (worth poking your head into to see the purification water fountain shaped like a rabbit). Ryoan-ji was one of the best spots in this site with its meditative rock garden and compact tea garden at the exterior. The nearby Ninna-ji has a very impressive gate and a pagoda that made up for never making the time to visit Toji. I would have liked to hit up its gardens, but in over-30 degree weather with high humidity, I gave it a pass. Nijo Castle was a uniquely secular site, making it a bit of an odd duck here. Its nightingale floorboards - a high-pitched noise created by nails underneath - mean that the amount of visitors almost make it better. At the expense of distracting from the beautiful wall art and intricate ceilings, the sound of hundreds of feet constantly chirping is a novel experience!
I was unable to visit as much components as I wanted to due to a combination of the oppressive heat (September is NOT the time to go to Kyoto) and bronchitis caught from a coughing baby at the Kyoto Railway Museum (even so, one of my favourite places I went on my trip to Japan. Check it out, just don't stand beside infectious children more than is necessary!) Hopefully one day I'll be able to come back and check off the rest of the sites, but nine makes for a good sampler of what the place has to offer nonetheless.
Jgriffindor6
My trip to Kyoto in October of 2023 was really one of the highlights of my two week adventure in Japan. I timed my trip to coincide with the Jidai Matsuri and Kobo Dashi flea market, which were both great experiences that I can't recommend more. I also had a great time collecting goshuin stamps from all the temples and shrines as a fun souvenir. Here's my review of every temple that i managed to visit under this WHS.
Ginkaku-ji: This one was really enjoyable, especially as the culmination of the fun Philosopher's Path. It was raining when we visited, which meant it was thankfully not crowded, and it lent to moody pictures of the main pagoda. Ekiando, although not on the whs, was along the same path and deserves a shout out.
To-ji: The main attractions were the tall pagoda and the lively Kobo Dashi market. To be honest, I have more memories of buying a clay tea pot here then of the actual temple itself lol. There was a lady selling "American muffins" which honestly looked just like the muffins from costco.
Ninna-ji: This one was suprsingly quiet, which was a nice change from the crowded To-ji. The garden area was really nice but it was also partially under construction so that took away from the historical immersion for me personally. I'm sure that it will look spectacular when it is done though! They also gave me a world heritage themed shoe bag which was epic.
Ryoan-ji: Honestly, this one was one of my least favorite sites because it was so crowded with abnoxious tour groups that were not respecting the Zen atmosphere. I made the mistake of not going right at the crack of dawn to avoid them, and I had mistakenly thought that since it was close to closing time they would be gone. I was so wrong :*(. People give americans a bad rap for being loud but it wasn't us this time i swear lol!!
Kinkaku-ji: This was the one that I thought would be the most crowded for sure. But my plan of arriving at this one last in the day worked out! There was a very limited amount of people and the setting sun made the temple shine so beautifully! I guess all the tour groups went to Kinkaku-ji first and then to Ryoan-ji. So arrive at this one right before it closes for the best lighting and crowds.
Byodoin: This one was another highlight for me as well. This one had a really awesome museum that housed all the artifacts from the temple which was not really a thing for the other sites. The building itself is spectacular and felt spiritual in a way that other temples in this whs did not. The avenue leading up to it was stocked with cute tea shops so I obviously had to do some shopping there as well.
Uji Shrine: I liked this shrine's location and understand why they included it in the whs (oldest shrine buildings in japan) but not too notable otherwise.
Tenryu-ji: This one had so much potential but it really irked me that they charged to enter each building and the garden all separately. No other temple did this (beyond the odd extra fee to enter a specific building) so out of spite I paid to see the garden only. The garden was lovely, especially with the fall leaves but the temple microtransactions were unhinged!
Kyomizudera: It is hard to avoid crowds here since this seems to be one of the school group tour greatest hits, but it is worth coming to see the big hall, especially since the scaffolding has finally come off!
I do plan on coming back to hit the rest of the temples and Nijo castle!
Hubert
Maybe it is not the best itinerary to start a Japan trip with one of its absolute highlights, Ancient Kyoto, and end it with the Mozu-Furuichi Tumuli. And I usually prefer to plan my trips with a top destination in the end. On the other hand, Kyoto was a perfect introduction to Japanese culture, architecture and food.
In September 2019, I spent five days in Kyoto, including a half day trip to Himeji-jo. I managed to visit 12 and a half of the 17 inscribed locations, I only left out the three northernmost sites – Kamigamo Shrine, Enryakuji, Kozanji – and Saiho-ji (which requires pre-booking). At first, I was a little worried about the busy schedule - three temples a day - and was prepared to skip a couple of sites, if necessary. Quite the contrary, not a bit of “getting templed-out”, I really enjoyed exploring all of these temples and shrines.
First, a few comments on the individual sites (in the order of my visits):
Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion: the view of the pavilion with the pond in the foreground is iconic, and probably every visitor to Kyoto has taken this photo. However, there is not much else to see, and the interior was closed to the public, so all in all a little overrated.
The Zen temple Ryoan-ji was one of my favorites, it is most famous for the minimalist rock garden.
Ninnan-ji was a pleasant surprise. I was most impressed by the huge Nio-mon gate with its guardian sculptures, and by the Goten palace, the former residence of the head priest.
Shimogamo-jinja is a nice example of a Shinto shrine with its vermilion-coloured torii and buildings. It is located in an old forest, a perfect morning walk for early birds: the grounds open at 5.30 am (summer season), only the main hall opens later.
Ginkaku-ji or the Silver Pavilion was built as a retirement villa for a shogun. It was my favorite in Kyoto, mainly because of the beautiful garden. I arrived after a heavy rain shower, so it was much less crowded than I had expected.
Kiyomizu-dera is located on a hillside in the traditional Gion district, the most popular tourist spot in Kyoto, and is very crowded. The entire main hall was under scaffolding when I visited, but the view over Kyoto from the large veranda was not obstructed.
Byōdō-in (photo) in the city of Uji, south of Kyoto. The elegantly designed Phoenix Hall is depicted on the 10-Yen coin, but would definitely deserve a more dignified representation. Noteworthy are the Fenghuang (Chinese phoenix) statues on the ridge. The adjacent museum should not be missed and the modern Tonka Tea Room is perfect for a break.
Ujigami Shrine is just a short walk from Byōdō-in to the opposite bank of the Uji river. It has the smallest area of all sublocations. It was included because the main hall is the oldest existing Shinto shrine building in Japan.
Daigo-ji is my “half visited” site. I arrived late in the afternoon, too late for the one-hour hike to the upper part of the temple. But the lower part was also worth it. It is a large complex and - untypical for Kyoto – there were only a handful of visitors.
Nijo-jo, the former residence of the Shōguns in Kyoto. The watchtower in the south-eastern corner is popular photo motif, but the highlight is the Ninomaru Palace, especially the paintings on the walls and sliding doors, all in the style of the Kanō school. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to take photos inside.
Nishi Hongwan-ji mainly consists of two large halls and a connecting corridor. It is near the Kyoto station and easy to reach, but I found it less interesting compared to the other sites.
Tenryu-ji, another Zen temple with a beautiful garden. Most visitors come here for the famous bamboo forest, just next to the temple. Not bad, but a little overrated in my opinion.
To-ji, in walking distance to Kyoto station, most remarkable is the five-storied pagoda, the tallest wooden tower in Japan.
In summary, my favourites were Ryoan-ji, Ginkaku-ji, and Byōdō-in. The least rewarding were Ujigami Shrine and Nishi Hongwan-ji, but none of them were really disappointing.
A nice temple souvenir is a Goshuinchō, a book where you can collect the unique seals/stamps of a temple or shrine, not only in Kyoto but all over Japan. A book costs around 1200 Yen, a stamp usually 300 Yen. I have an almost complete collection of the WH temples and shrines I visited in Japan, only Nishi Hongwan-ji did not offer one.
Getting around in Kyoto
I explored Kyoto by bike, on foot, and by public transport.
I stayed in a ryokan about one kilometer north of Nijo Castle. My host offered me a bike and I used it for the first two days. Cycling in Kyoto is a bit messy, no bike paths, you can use either the road or the sidewalk. But it was a time-saving and relaxing way to visit the sites in northern Kyoto.
The sites in the southeast (Byōdō-in, Ujigami) and northwest (Tenryu-ji) are located along JR lines that are included in the Japan Rail Pass. Public transport works perfectly like everywhere in Japan. However, Google Maps was not very useful, so better use Arukumachi planner for Kyoto.
Non-WHS recommendations
As other reviewers already stated, Kyoto is full of temples, some of which are on par with the sites listed. Two recommendations: The Fushimi Inari-taisha is very popular, and rightly so; you should arrive as early as possible. The hike to the summit and back takes 1-2 hours, depending on how many photos you take. And second, Sanjūsangen-dō with the incredible number of 1001 life-size statues of the Thousand-armed Kannon.
Food is great in Japan, and Kyoto is considered the home of traditional Japanese cuisine (inscribed on the intangible cultural heritage list). If you're adventurous, the Nishiki Market is the place to go. I would recommend Tako Tamago, a small octopus filled with a quail egg. Not far from Nishiki is the Teo Kafon café, my recommendation is the Matcha Sweets Plate.
All in all, Ancient Kyoto is a great WHS and I would love to come back to visit the remaining four and a half locations.
GabLabCebu
WHS#3
Kyoto is the first WHS that I've had the chance to visit in 2 different trips. I first visited this amazing city on a day trip from Tokyo in May 2012, visiting just 2 out of the 17 WHS component sites, namely Kinkakuji and Kiyomizu-dera, probably the 2 most popular to visit. When I came back to Japan in December 2019, I knew I had to refresh my Kyoto experience, so I ended up coming back to Kyoto on a day trip from Osaka and visited 3 more sites in Kozanji, Ninnaji, and Nijo-jo. Kyoto as a WHS is a bit disconnected, as it's a predominantly modern city, but no one can deny how remarkable and evident its historic heritage is. The city is home to over a thousand temples, and out of those, only 13 are recognized as part of the WHS, which does sometimes raise the question of why this, why not that? Well, the best answer I can give to that is just this: Each component site has it's own individual OUV that makes it a good representation of the diversity of heritage in Kyoto. Of course, that's not to say that none of the other temples don't have individual value, but this just seems to be a defining characteristic for each of the inscribed sites. Now, without further ado, let's dive into each one.
Kinkakuji and Kiyomizu-dera are definitely highlights of the Kyoto WHS, at least for the touristic perspective. Kinkakuji's Golden Pavilion and Kiyomizu's wooden balcony view are definitely the 2 most iconic views of Kyoto, and for a reason. They're absolutely stunning sites. Kinkakuji is a great example of Japanese landscaping, providing the perfect view of the towering pavilion behind the peaceful lake, backed by a lush forest. The gold leaf shining in the sunlight is just a majestic sight that shows the richness of the culture that built this masterpiece. One minor fault to note, though, is that this great golden centerpiece was actually rebuilt in 1955. This is no Horyuji, but the structure, at least, seems to have been rebuilt authentically enough, and it's visual appeal is unaffected. Kiyomizu-dera is probably the most important monument in the Kyoto. Completely built from wood, this multistory temple on a mountainside is legendary for its beauty, scale, and innovation. I'll admit I don't remember as much as I wish I did about my 2012 trip, and I'm missing a lot of details, but those iconic views are vivid as ever.
For my recent trip, I was armed with the JR Pass. I quickly realized that to make the most of it, I had to find a site that I'd be unlikely to get to without the pass, and that was Kozanji. Only the JR bus goes all the way to Toganoo, just past Takao about an hour's drive from Kyoto Station, so I took the chance to visit this relatively unknown temple. Kozanji is not a grand monument. For a steep price of 800 yen, you get to walk in a single bare 800-year-old wooden building and its small garden. I know that doesn't sound like much, but this is actually one of the coolest little corners in Kyoto. The building itself isn't impressive or particularly beautiful, but it's entirely authentic. It's also home to the first manga. In case you didn't know, manga are the comic strips made in Japan that have a very distinct style of art. Here, you can see a collection of scrolls that are said to be the comic's predecessor, and they're really cool artistic works. There are also a few statues and figures to see. The best part of visiting is really just the atmosphere, though. It's so tranquil, surrounded by beautiful pine-covered mountains, and the garden, though tiny, is just so subtly beautiful. And with all the moss around, it just feels straight out of a fairy tale. Kozanji is also the first place in Japan where tea was grown, so that's another big fact that attests to the huge significance of this site.
My next stop was Ninnaji, whose gate towered over the road that the JR bus passes on the way to and from Takao. I had originally considered skipping Ninnaji due to the time constraints I had on the day, but seeing the gate was too tempting to skip. Unfortunately, winter isn't the best time to explore a prime cherry blossom viewing spot. The famous Omuro Cherries, the late-blooming pygmy blossoms, weren't just lifeless, but off limits. I also skipped the 500 yen entry to the Goten to explore the free area for the same time constraints and winter circumstances. The temple buildings are all separated and arranged in a pattern ascending the hillside, and observing the different halls and pagodas was definitely enjoyable. While all the interiors were off-limits at the time, there was one hall with window openings wide enough that I could stick my phone through for a picture, and it was impressive. The Buddhist art here is exquisite. The 5-story pagoda here is also a highlight, and I wondered how high the one at Toji could be for it to be taller than this one. Overall, Ninnaji is a really interesting, rich, and underrated temple of Kyoto.
After having lunch, I found that I had to skip Ryoanji instead, so I went straight to the highlight of the day, Nijo-jo. The Karamon is probably the most beautiful gate in Kyoto for the intricacy in its colorful carvings. Ninomaru Palace, with its golden sliding doors, colorful ceilings, and nightingale floors, is a sight and sound to behold. Seriously, it didn't matter how softly and slowly I stepped, the floor just kept chirping. I find that the no picture policy works well in the palace, as crowds don't get too congested in the wooden hallways. The garden here is one of the best out there as it's impossible to see a bad view. Honmaru Palace was unfortunately under renovation and was completely covered. The inner moat, though, did not disappoint, especially from the Donjon. Nijo-jo is, to me, the artistic peak of Kyoto, and it's the true symbol of the imperial capital that defines so much of its history.
After this, I went to Arashiyama to see the illuminations of the Hanatouro Festival. The Bamboo Grove and Togetsukyo Bridge were lighted up in a dazzling array of colors, but Tenryuji, a component site of the WHS, was closed. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the time, as well as my bad planning of the day, I don't think I truly got the proper experience for any of the WHS sites in Kyoto that I visited, except Kozanji. Kyoto is a place that I know I've missed a lot of, and it's a place I know I'll come back for someday. To come back for further insights on Kinkakuji and Kiyomizu-dera, the Goten and Omuro Cherries of Ninnaji, the Honmaru of Nijo-jo, and all the other amazing sites, WHS and not, is definitely a goal for me. It would be especially great to see the magnificence of Byodoin, the beauty of Enryakuji, the mystery of Kokedera, and the pagoda at Toji. And of course, I'd love to hike the full Fushimi Inari trail. It's probably not a part of the WHS because of its nature as a shrine constantly contributed to by donors, but it's not any less significant than any other great site. Temples like Sanjusangendo, Nanzenji, Jingoji, and Daitokuji also seem to be on par with the WHS temples. There's just so much to see in Kyoto that it will never be finished, and it's so hard to sum it up. It truly represents the height of Japanese culture, and no matter the strange technicalities, it's an undeniably wondrous city that takes lifetimes to understand and explore.
ZiggyAngelo8
Even staying for 2 weeks in Kyoto, I still didn't manage to visit all of the city's temples, but for those that I did visit, they each present different, unique landscapes and buildings to wander through - and that is the way I found myself, wandering slowly in a sort of otherworldly revelry, admiring every little detail which had been created, from the ponds to the pagodas.
Obviously, as possibly the most famous temple in Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion) is especially busy, so expect to wait about 10 minutes to get the pond edge for that perfect photograph. You can expect a decent number of people around each major temple in the city, even if it isn't UNESCO listed.
Though not as impressive as Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion), is a place I highly recommend visiting. The complex sits at the foot of the mountains and so feels more secluded than many of the other sites, and it is an exemplary display of the Japanese landscape design which is famous across the city.
Enryaku-ji, though harder to access (one must drive or take the train to Sakamoto, then take the Funicular up the mountain) is perhaps the most surreal place I have ever visited. There is very little sound except for the periodic ringing of the peace bell, and the clouds often settle around the height of the temple, creating a misty aura, as if you've stepped into another world. Most people will only visit the main temple complex by the entrance, however, I highly recommend visiting the second area, where you can see Shaka-do, an isolated temple surrounded by trees which can make even the most atheistic feel a sort of spiritual presence.
Shannon O'Donnell
No single description or image can encapsulate the sheer beauty of Kyoto's ancient temples. On the one hand, it's a large and fast-paced modern city and that surprised me. I was taken aback when walking through shiny metal buildings and city blocks to find my guesthouse. But once you realize that Kyoto is a modern city with an ancient history preserved within several districts of the city, it's easier to find the fascinating areas and the deep history.
I spent four full days exploring the city and about 10 hours per day of that was spent just walking and navigating to the many things on offer. And while that may seem like a lot, the temples and gardens are diverse and unique, meaning you don't reach temple fatigue quite as much as you might in other areas. Since the city was founded 794 AD, the temples range through a large span of history, meaning the styles, architecture, and aesthetics are all very different.
I walked the vast majority of the Northern and Southern Higashiyama Districts, as well as the Arashiyama district, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Gion District, too. Out of all of that, my favorite temples were:
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)
- Shoren-in Temple
- Chion-in Temple
- Honen-in Temple
- Hiking behind the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
And Nara is an easy day trip from the city, so it's worth heading there for one of your Kyoto days as well!
Read more from Shannon O'Donnell here.
Gary Arndt
I visited this site in 2007.
Like many of the European world heritage sites which encompass an entire city (Paris, Rome, etc) Kyoto is probably the grandest and most encompassing world heritage site in Japan.
Kyoto was specifically spared bombing in WWII by the allies because of its history. Unfortunately, many of the buildings did not survive the post-WWII modernization fervor in Japan.
Nonetheless, there is plenty to see in Kyoto and you can easily spend several days in the city viewing historic shrines and temples.
This is a must see for any tour of Japan.
Read more about the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto on my website.
Michael Turtle
Within the city, there are 17 specific places that have been designated as part of the official Kyoto listing on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s impossible to see them all in a day. I think you’d be hard pressed to see them all in three days even. If you’re the kind of person who likes to explore things in depth then you’ll need to leave yourself enough time to properly understand a city as culturally-rich as Kyoto.
I gave myself just one day in Kyoto, which I now regret. It’s easy to get templed-out in this region of Japan and I fear that was beginning to happen to me. But I still managed to see some of the most important temples and shrines… and finished the day, as the sun set, at the most beautiful of all the sights, Kiyomizu-dera.
Read more from Michael Turtle here.
Tom Livesey
I went to Kyoto in February 2016. Of the 4 WHSs I took in on my Japan trip, Kyoto captured the essence of Japanese heritage the best for me. A good point to get your bearing and view many of the temples is the rather expensive Kyoto Observation Tower. Also note that the famous Fushimi Inari shrine is NOT inscribed, though is still fun to visit.
Byodo-in: We took the Nara line 30 minutes out of Kyoto to Uji station, where it seemed that every other shop was a specialist in matcha. Byodo-in temple is surrounded by a tranquil pool of water. This was the first time on our trip that we were required to take off our shoes, which is something you will find very often when visiting Japanese cultural sites. The museum includes 52 wooden bodhisattvas, which seem vaguely similar to angels in Christianity.
Ujigami-jinja: across the wide Uji river from Byodo-in is this small guardian shrine. It was the lowest-key and the quietest of the sites we visited in the Greater Kyoto area. So quiet, in fact, that it joined the select list of World Heritage Sites at which we have found ourselves to be the only visitors.
Kyo-o-gokoku-ji (To-ji): a short distance from Kyoto’s main railway station in the centre of town, Toji temple is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan. The site features a couple of single-storey buildings too: the Kodo (lecture hall) and Kondo (main hall). Each of these contains a selection of fabulous gilded statues positioned as a physical representation of the cosmology of Buddhism.
Hongan-ji: A brisk walk north took us to another temple close to Kyoto station. Free to enter, at Hongan-ji we saw two large decorated halls into which ordinary Japanese would come to pray. The floors are covered with tatami mats, so again one must take off shoes to enter. It was very peaceful inside these buildings, and it almost felt as if we shouldn't have been in there, being the non-Buddhists that we are.
Tenryu-ji: after a morning at Himeji Castle we darted back to Kyoto in order to visit another shrine. This time we picked Tenryu-ji, which is on the western outskirts of Kyoto, close to the hills that have halted the city’s almost inexorable sprawl. This temple was everything a tourist would want one to be: pretty, peaceful, garden, pond, raked gravel, bamboo, tatami mats, paper walls and quiet.
Nijo-ji: unlike some of the other temples in Kyoto, Nijo Castle is not a small and indoorsy one! Surrounded by a moat, it is a formidable block in the heart of the city. We walked around the maze of corridors inside the Ninomaru Palace, squeaking over the nightingale flooring. The surface was deliberately designed to ‘chirp’ when walked on, in order that intruders would not be able to sneak up on the emperor unannounced.
Clyde
I visited this WHS in November 2009. The highlight of my visit was surely the Golden Pavilion and the surrounding Japanese gardens. It was the centre of Japanese culture for more than 1000 years and the imperial capital of Japan. Surely, one of Japan's top WHS.
Thibault Magnien
Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for almost 1000 years and still remains the cultural center of the country.
I have spent 4 days visiting Kyoto amazing world heritage listed buildings. I have visited 11 sites out of 17. Among them, those that really astonished me are Nijo jo castle with its imperial palace, full of decorated rooms, Kinkaku ji with the Golden Pavilion and To ji with its 5 story pagoda which is the tallest one in Japan. Kyoto is the heart of Japan and houses some of the finest testimonies of ancient Asian architecture with its shrines, temples, palaces and zen gardens. The place is amazing and full of splendorous treasures.
The image shows Nijo Jo castle (exterior white fortifications and interior buildings), Kiyomizu Dera entrance gate, To Ji pagoda, Byodo In temple and Kinkaku Ji Golden Pavillon.
Daniel C-Hazard
Bicycles are a convenient transportation alternative. Nearly all sites except Kiyomizu-dera have free bicycle parking. With a mountain bike it is possible to visit all interesting sites east of the river in one day. Use the paths parallel to the river to avoid traffic. You can even reach Fushimi Inari Taisha in 20 minutes or so from Gion.
Ginkaku-ji was undergoing some small renovation but was still one of my favorites. I also loved Byôdô-in Uji.
I experienced the people of Kyoto to be overwhelmingly friendly – from curious passengers in city buses to the staff of the excellent tourist information in Kyoto station.
Kyoto is a truly unique place. Don't miss places like Sanjûsangen-dô and Fushimi Inari Taisha (although those are not WHS).
Val Nelson
I visited Kyoto in April at cherry blossom time - husband was an invited guest and we were taken around the city by Japanese people. This is a rare time to see the city because all the streets and shrines are surrounded by cherry blossoms. One shrine we visited had 2,000 cherry trees in bloom and it is a tradition for the Japanese to spread blankets under them and get drunk and sing--their version of tailgating! The grounds of the Golden Shrine sits over the water and is 1,500 years old. The landscaping there is beautiful and one can see the shrine from many angles. One bonsai tree was over 800 years old and shaped like a ship.
jaxon nobori
I managed to see all except on the list of 17. Missed the Saiho-ji (moss temple)and Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei. Otherwise, everything was memorable, but some places more than others. The ones in Kyoto I'd recommend are: Ginkaku-ji, Nijo-jo, Daigo-ji (Sampo-in), Nanzen-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, To-ji (especially for the flea market on the 21st of every month), Kitano Tenman-gu (also has a flea market on the 25th of the month), Ryoan-ji (if you can tolerate crowds), and the Kamigamo & Shimgamo Shrines along the Kamo River. In Uji City: Byodo-in and the Ujigama Shrines. That only leaves three you could pass over, and another two I didn't get to visit.
C H Ho
Hong Kong, China - 01-May-05 -
The bus inside Kyoto is convenience but their speed are slow. I suggest to go to Higashiyama region. Visit Kiyomizu Temple and follow the route of philosophy until Ginkakuji Temple. The best time is in April and the cherry blossom on the route of philosophy.
Rob Wilson
I have spent a great deal of time in Kyoto and it never ceases to break my heart.
The city itself is an utter monstrosity, a nightmare mess of urban planning.
There are some wonderful spots in the city, but these are marred by the city itself. Many of the temples, gardens and shrines are almost ruined by tacky souvenir stalls that seem to dog this country's tourist sites.
I have visited virtually all of the temples and sites inscribed on the list and would recommend the following:- (1)Byodo-In, one of the few remaing Heian period buildings left in Japan. It is a real gem. (2) Enryaku-Ji. A wonderful mountain-top temple that has beautiful views over Lake Biwa. (3) Nijo-Jo. One of the most outstanding palaces remaining in Japan.
The most visited temple is Kinkaku-Ji - the Gold Pavillion. I find this place rather gaudy and overdone. It is a relatively recent creation, built in 1955 after the original was burnt down.
Nishi-Hongan-Ji is currently undergoing a massive face-lift and rebuilding project. The Kondo Hall will be off limits for several years.
Ginkaku-Ji (The Silver Pavillion) is looking a bit worse for wear these days and could use a lick of paint.
Re-building is something that always has to be born in mind with Japanese temples - what you are looking at may be advertised as being 700 years old, but it could easily be a modern re-construction.
Rebecca Burger
I went to Kyoto 2 summers ago as a 3 week study abroad program for my University. it was one of the most experiences of my life. Here I saw things that I had previously only seen in the textbooks of my Arts of Japan class. Kinkakuji Temple stands out in my mind due to the fact that even if you are a terrible photographer, you just can't take a bad photo of this site. It is gorgeous! One note for the inexperienced traveller, be prepared to see some of the most incredible gardens. Every temple has a spectacular garden that deserves some film space. One thing I remember is that hydrangea bushes are common and the Japanese red maple is a staple. Also be prepared for Japanese high school students. Nearly every major temple I went to had a huge group of high school or elementary school kids. Especially if you are an American male, these kids will take interest and often ask help on an English assignment. They are very cute and sometimes if they gather the courage, they will ask for a picture. Also take off your shoes before entering some of the temples. Also don't worry about rude Japanese because for the most part they are very polite towards foriegners so don't worry about how bad your Japanese is because they are fairly understanding.
Els Slots
After two visits I still only have seen a fraction of all the temples in Kyoto. Most remarkable are the big differences between them (probably caused by the fact that they were built during several periods within the long heydays of Kyoto).
For a first-time visitor I would recommend Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavillion), Ryoan-ji (to sample a fine Zen garden) and Daitoku-ji (no worldheritage status, but a lovely complex to walk around).
Community Rating
- : Jon Bauer Khuft Daniel C-Hazard João Aender Col Chalamphol Therakul Jeffrey Chai Ran Mike Stanislaw Warwas Chenboada Filippo Ubaldi Zoë Sheng YAO WEI Luke LOU Jungliemonkey Shannon O'Donnell Reisedachs Christravelblog CalvinLoh S. Anril Tiatco Geo Carlo Sarion Victoria | Bridges and Balloons Htupaz M.HATADA Momac96 NonDuality Julio Moreno 50pagesofshawn TaiTT Astraftis Tristal Debatecoach Hanming Juropa Fleur Priyaranjan Mohapatra Pchxiao Mihai Dascalu Mauralin13 Xtopher33 Cutecid Rvieira DoktorMikel Westwards Mazeman AGuzzo Elena Y Allnamesused CeeMon Amitlchoudhuryjbp Babbil Babbil59 GerhardM Boppare Ming_9734 Jawnbeary MC Jgriffindor6 Javier
- : Solivagant Frederik Dawson Gary Arndt DL Philipp Peterer Hubert Caspar Dechmann Clyde Rickard Alfredsson Nolan B. Sncjob Shandos Cleaver Alexander Lehmann Dennis Nicklaus ZiggyAngelo8 HaraldOest AT8 Dan1306 Mahuhe Inomusay Tingmelvin TeacherPavel Takanenohana Oscar Wu Felicité Alejandro Lau Bossc Ssong.x
- : Els Slots Peter Lööv Wojciech Fedoruk Nan Randi Thomsen Svein Elias Alexander Parsons Allan & Lucia Lukasz Palczewski Ralf Regele Ceezmad Nafis N Lucio Gorla GabLabCebu Dorejd KoenigMarke Philipp Leu JoStof Wrung24 Kelseyyurek Isabellemarais J_neveryes Everett Lembu
- : Adrian Turtschi Wimmy Jon Opol
- : Mikko Alex Marcean
Site Info
- Full Name
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
- Unesco ID
- 688
- Country
- Japan
- Inscribed
- 1994
- Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
-
2 4
- Categories
- Archaeological site - Far Eastern
- Link
- By ID
Site History
1994 Inscribed
Site Links
Unesco Website
Official Website
In the News
Locations
The site has 17 locations
Connections
The site has 39 connections
Art and Architecture
Constructions
Damaged
History
Human Activity
Individual People
Religion and Belief
Timeline
Trivia
Visiting conditions
WHS Hotspots
WHS on Other Lists
World Heritage Process
Visitors
598 Community Members have visited.
The Plaque
No plaque has been identified yet for this site.