Kiyomizudera
Kiyomizudera is easily number one on any Kyoto temple guide. Its verandah is one of the city’s most recognizable structures, a gigantic wooden stage-deck that is a 1633 reproduction of the 798 original. It juts out over the steep hillside, floating over maple trees that glow red in the autumn months. Descending the slope via a narrow path that skirts the edge of a forest, visitors encounter Otowa-no-taki, a waterfall with three streams partitioned by man-made stone conduits.
Kinkaku-ji
Second to Kiyomizudera can only be Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion. The present structure dates to 1955 after a crazed monk burnt down the previous temple in a defiant act of arson. The top two floors are coated in real gold leaf, as per the wishes of the shogun who designed this place as his retirement villa. Following the style of the Heian era, the temple sits on the edge of a lake that reflects Kinkaku-ji’s glittering patina.
Ginkaku-ji
Ginkaku-ji, or the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, is not actually silver. Unlike its sister Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), the shogun that commissioned this villa never had the time to coat the temple in shimmery foil. Still, most Kyotoites believe that the exquisite gardens at Ginkaku-ji outshine Kinkaku-ji’s golden exterior.
Nanzen-ji
Nanzen-ji’s claim to fame is its “gateless” gate, or sanmon – an impressive wooden structure that towers over the temple grounds, radiating an uncanny stillness. It’s not uncommon to see locals and tourists alike resting on the gate’s platform, relaxing and soaking in this temple’s peaceful charm. For those who want to get a bird’s eye view of the place, you can pay a small fee to climb up a steep flight of stairs to the sanmon’s balcony. Don’t leave Nanzen-ji without visiting its large aqueduct, one of the most photogenic spots in Kyoto.
Higashi Hongan-ji
Higashi Hongan-ji is located just north of Kyoto station, making it a convenient temple to visit after immediately arriving in the city, or just before you depart to your next destination. The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall, is the second largest wooden structure in Japan, after Nara’s Daibutsu-den, or Great Buddha Hall. The inside is an open worship space, with golden chandeliers and an extravagantly carved ceiling. Be sure to remove your shoes before entering – this hall is one of the largest remaining tatami rooms in Japan. Higashi Hongan-ji is also one of the two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect, the most popular form of Buddhism practiced in Japan today.
Tofuku-ji
Your itinerary should include Tofuku-ji before or after a visit to the Shinto shrine Fushimi Inari, the much celebrated, much-photographed rows of vermillion gates that extend all the way up one of Kyoto’s eastern mountains. Like Nanzen-ji, Tofuku-ji is famous for its spectacular sanmon. At 22 meters tall, it is the oldest gate of its kind, dating to 1425. The temple is also known for the Tsutenkyo Bridge, which is particularly lovely when shrouded in red autumn leaves.