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Headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen, Nanzen-ji is one of Kyoto’s most important temples. Established in late 13th century, Nanzen-ji includes multiple major structures and subtempl...

Established in the late-15th century, Ginkaku-ji or the ‘Silver Pavilion’ was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Modelled on Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), the villa was repurp...

Most commonly referred to as ‘Sanjusangendo’, the properly named Rengeo-in is the longest wooden structure and second largest temple in Japan. Founded by the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa in 11...

Fushimi Inari Taisha or ‘Fushimi Inari Shrine’ is one of Kyoto’s most popular and photographed destinations due to the thousands of ‘torii’ gates that lead from the shrine into the mountains. The...

Officially named ‘Rokuon-ji’, ‘Kinkaku-ji’ or the ‘Temple of the Golden Pavilion’ is one of the seventeen sites making-up Kyoto’s World Heritage-listing and perhaps the most recognisable attracti...

Zenkoji Temple is home to a number of Buddhist rituals and ceremonies, some of which are only held every few years and some which occur every day. While Buddhist visitors to Japan may be most keen to...

Built in 17th century as the Kyoto residence of the famous shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nijo Castle is an expansive historic precinct in the heart of Kyoto. A registered World Heritage site, Nijo incl...

Situated within Kyoto Imperial Park, the Imperial Palace was the main residence of the Imperial Family until it was relocated to Tokyo in 1868. The precinct is defined by grand structures and exp...

Ryoan-ji, or the "Temple of the Dragon at Peace," is one of the seventeen World Heritage-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Originally an aristocrat’s residence, it was transformed into a Ze...