Author: Steven Chin, Credit: Flashpacking Japan

As the former capital city of Japan, Kyoto is home to some of the best temples and castles that you'll find in Japan, with a vast majority of them listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Immerse yourself in the rich historical and cultural breeze of Kyoto by visiting these ancient gems of Japan! And also the perfect places for an Insta-worthy Japan photo!

【Kinkaku-Ji】

Officially named Rokuon-ji, Kinkaku-ji (literally "Temple of Golden Pavilion) is a Zen Buddhist temple first opened in 1397. The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf, and the whole building was an important model for Ginkaku-ji and Shokoku-ji, both located in Kyoto.

📍: 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 603-8361, Japan

【Nijo-Jo】

Nijo-jo, or Nijo Castle is a flatland castle in Kyoto built in 1679. The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, various support buildings, and several gardens.

📍: 541 Nijojocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8301, Japan

【Tenryu-Ji】

More formally known as Tenryu Shiseizen-ji, the Tenryu-ji is the head temple of the Tenryu branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. The temple was founded in 1339 primarily to venerate Gautama Buddha, and its construction was completed in 1345. One of the highlights of the temple is the Sogen Pond which is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan.

📍: 68 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 616-8385, Japan

【Ginkaku-Ji】

Officially named Jisho-ji, the Ginkaku-ji (literally "Temple of Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple completed in 1490. The temple was the retirement villa and gardens of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th Shogun of Ashikaga shogunate, and he arranged the property to become a Zen temple after his death.

📍: 2 Ginkakuji-chō, Sakyō-ku, Kyōto, Kyoto Prefecture

【Ryōan-ji】

Ryoan-ji (literally "Temple of the Dragon at Peace") is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Myoshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. The Ryoan-ji garden is considered one of the finest surviving examples of kare-sansui, a refined type of Japanese Zen temple garden design generally featuring distinctive rock formations that facilitate meditation.

📍: 13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 616-8001, Japan

【Kiyomizu-Dera】

Officially known as Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, the temple is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple complex here includes several other shrines, among them the Jushi Shrine dedicated to Okuninushi, a god of love and "good matches", where a pair of "love stones" placed 18 meters apart, and lonely visitors who can reach the other stone with their eyes closed will find love, or true love.

📍: 294 Kiyomizu 1-chome, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0862, Japan

【To-Ji】

To-ji (literally "East Temple") is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon Sector in Kyoto. It once had a partner, Sai-ji (West Temple), which was burnt and never rebuilt. The temple's former name, Kyo-o-gokoku-ji (The Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the Kings of Doctrines), indicates that it previously funtioned as a temple providing protection for the nation.

📍: 1 Kujocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 601-8473, Japan

【Saiho-Ji】

Saiho-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple famed for its moss garden commonly referred to as Koke-dera (moss temple). Over 120 types of moss are present in the two-tiered garden, resembling a beautiful green carpet with many subtle shades.

📍: 56 Matsuojingatanicho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 615-8286, Japan

【Nishi Hongan-Ji】

The Nishi Hongan-ji is a Jodo Shinshu buddhist temple in the Shimogyo ward of Kyoto. It is one of two Jodo Shinshu (a school of Pure Land Buddhism) temple complexes in Kyoto, and today it serves as the head temple of the organization. One proud achievement of the temple other than its UNESCO World Heritage status is it designation of National Treasures in three different categories.

📍: 60 Horikawa-dōri Hanaya-chō Kudaru Honganji Monzen-machi, Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

【Ninna-Ji】

Ninna-ji is the head temple of the Shingon Sector of Buddhism located in western Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded in 888. The temple's Golden Hall is enlisted as one of the National Treasure of Japan.

📍: 33 Omuroouchi, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 616-8092, Japan

【Shimogamo-Jinja】

Shimogamo-jinja is the common name of an important Shinto sanctuary in the Shimogamo district of Kyoto. The shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, first established in the 6th century. The shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Tamayori-hime and her father, Kamo Taketsunomi, which are variously associated with thunder.

📍: 59 Shimogamo Izumigawacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 606-0807, Japan

【Enryaku-Ji】

Enryaku-ji is a Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei, overlooking Kyoto. The temple was founded in 788, and is the headquarters of the Tendai sector and one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history. Enryaku-ji is also the center for the practice of kaihogyo (or marathon monks), an ascetic practice involving walking a route on Mount Hiei which may takes 1000 days to complete.

📍: 4220 Sakamotohonmachi, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture 520-0116, Japan

【Byodo-In】

Byodo-in is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto, built in the late Heian period. The temple has a half-size replica in the Valley of the Temples in O'ahu, Hawaii, which was completed on June 7, 1968.

📍: 116 Ujirenge, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture

【Daigo-Ji】

Daigo-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple with the main devotion Yakushi (Medicine Buddha). The temple is famed for its garden, which once held a cherry blossom viewing party called Daigo no hanami, and the bright colors of maple leaves also attracts tourists and others in the autumn season.

📍: 22 Daigohigashiojicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 601-1325, Japan

【Kamigamo-Jinja】

Kamigamo-jinja is an important Shinto sanctuary on the banks of the Kamo River in north Kyoto, first founded in 678. The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period, and it is famous for its worship hall, which was rebuilt in 1628-1629.

📍: 339 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 603-8047, Japan

【Kozan-Ji】

Officially named Toganosan Kosan-ji, the temple is a Buddhist temple of the Omuro sector of Shingon Buddhism in Kyoto. The temple was founded by the Shingon scholar and monk Myoe, and is renowned for its numerous national treasures and important cultural properties, including the Choju-jinbutsu-giga, a group of ink paintings from the 12th and 13th centuries.

📍: 8 Umegahata Toganō-chō, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

【Ujigami-Jinja】

Ujigami-jinja is a Shinto shrine built as a guardian shrine for the nearby Byodo-in, and is adjacent to the Uji Shrine. The shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Nintoku, Emperor Ojin and his sons, the imperial princes Uji no Wakiiratsuko who committed suicide to solve a dispute over the imperial succession. The honden (main hall) of the Ujigami-jinja is known as the oldest example of nagare-zukuri style of shrine architecture in Japan.

📍: Japan, 〒611-0021 Kyoto Prefecture, Uji, 宇治山田５９