Visiting Kyoto’s stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Part 2

Let’s continue our visit of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sights! As in Part 1, we have a good mix of relatively little-visited sites and those that require a bit of planning – or joining a long queue -here.

Initially I planned this as one post, but by the time I had added a bit of history, how to access the sites, and my personal experience on those I visited, my Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage post was becoming very long, so I decided to split it into two posts. 

I have listed the UNESCO World Heritage sites roughly in chronological order, and amazingly, continuing here in Part 2, we are still in the mid Heian Period, thousand years ago. So, this makes most of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage sites over a thousand years old!

Byodo-in, Uji

You may ask why you should visit another town outside Kyoto to visit yet another temple when there are two thousand in Kyoto already? And you may be right – but Uji is a pleasant day trip – or half a day if you are in a hurry.

As one of Japan’s most famous tea-growing region, it’s more famous for “matcha runs” these days, but honestly, Uji is well worth a visit for the stunning Byodo-in alone. And there are smaller crowds at the temple if not at the matcha shops.

Built in 998 during the mid-Heian period, Byodo-in wasn’t always a temple, but started as a country residence. It was converted fifty years later into a “Pure Land” Amida temple by the original owner’s son. Both were influential courtiers belonging to the Fujiwara Clan. It was a this time that the Phoenix Hall was erected – which amazingly survived to this day. The Phoenix Hall witnessed the Battle of Uji between the warring clans of the Taira and the Minamoto, and one of the first ritual suicides, when Minamoto no Yorimasa, a samurai turned Buddhist Monk at Byodo-in, committed ritual suicide in the temple grounds following his army’s defeat.

As time went on, several sub-temples were built around Phoenix Hall. Although there were more battles and more fires, The Phoenix Hall, gently decaying, survived them all. Eventually the different Buddhist schools resident at Byodo-in made collaborative efforts to maintain Phoenix Hall. But from the late 1600s and well into the Taisho Era, the temple was mostly left alone – but it survived without major repairs or alterations! It was designed a National Treasure in the 1950s and put under a protective order, then restored.

This venerable temple is now a joint venture of the Tendai-Shu and Jodo-Shu schools of Buddhism, and as with pretty much all Buddhist temples, everyone is welcome.

I visited in 2008 prior to its recent restoration and had it pretty much all to myself. I know how this has probably changed, but I am going to revisit soon to find out and will update accordingly.

Ujigami Shrine, Uji

Let’s continue with the other UNESCO site in Uji, the Ujigami Shrine. It may be the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan still standing – but no one knows exactly. It was well established in the 11th Century, making this mid-Heian era, too, and became a guardian shrine for Byodo-in across the river

As to why it is on the UNESCO List, and not Ise or Atsuta Grand Shrines, I do not know, but there is general consensus that these important shrines were not registered as they were too important to continue with religious ceremonies.

If you have time, do not miss the concrete 1990’s architecture of the Keihan Railway Uji Station, and stock up on green tea. The most photogenic place for quality tea, a tea. related rest and snack and other green tea souvenirs, is probably Byodo-in Omotesando, and Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Main Shop is probably its most famous store, but the Asagiri Street closer to Ujigami Shrine may be quieter – and has a large number of matcha sweet shops. I see, and with the Tale of Genji Museum, this could well be a full day trip! I am going to visit this year or next, hopefully, and will add practical details.

Kozan-ji and the Mount Takao Temples

This post contains more places I have not been to, and Kozan-ji is one of them. Since I am planning my next trip at the tail end of autumn leaves season, I will try to re-visit not just Uji, but I really would like to visit Mount Takao – if I still get a chance to see some colourful leaves.

Kozan-ji temple was founded around 1210 but was destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times. It is a temple of the Shingon sect and houses several culturally significant artefacts such as the  Chōjū-giga picture scrolls of the frog and the hare – very famous in folklore, copied a thousand times and often subject of popular illustrations. So here, you can admire the originals.

Visiting the Mount Takao temples

If you make the trek there, I suggest you visit all three of the Takao temples: Kozan-ji, Saimyo-ji and Jingo-ji. It takes about an hour from central Kyoto, but Bus No. 8 will take you here, plus a little bit of an uphill walk. I have it on my list to visit, and since it is on quite the impressive forest, autumn leaf season is said to be the best season to visit.

Nishi Honganji (西本願寺), the True Pure Land Headquarters

When you arrive in Kyoto and take a bus towards Downtown Kyoto, chances are that you will pass some magnificent temple compounds soon after leaving Kyoto Station.

They are Higashi (East) and Nishi (West) Hongan-ji. The Hongan-ji temples were established in 1321 at the site where the Monk Shinran, the founder of Jodo-Shinshu (True Pure Land School) was buried. Through the Sengoku Wars and support of one Shogun or another and land granted, the temple was divided into the East and West branch – and different sects of Jodo-Shinshu.

Nishi-Hongan-ji, established in 1591, has the older and partially original buildings -which is why this temple was designated a UNESCO World heritage. Its 1500s Karamon Gate originally belonged to Fushimi Castle, th Founders Hall dates back to 1636, and its Amida Hall was rebuilt in 1760.

Visiting Nishi Hongan-ji

Nishi Hongan-ji is a very easy temple to visit. I am still baffled how few visitors it gets despite its proximity to Kyoto Station and its Heritage status – both a National Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage.

You can easily walk from Kyoto Station in less than ten minutes. The compound is calm, with shady terraces and two two main halls are huge – and often empty. Perfect for a quiet visit, admiring classic Buddhist altars and a wooden Statue of the Amida Buddha. And it’s fine to take a little rest here, too.

The temple is open between 5.30 and 17.00 and has a prayer service open to all at 7am. Perfect for a jetlagged early walk.

Don’t miss the richly decorated Karamon Gate to the South – the temple’s oldest building. The MAin entrance on Horikawa Road has a very nice information centre with comfortable seats, a small shop and a huge banks with vending machines. While you are there, don’t miss Kungyokudo, a venerable traditional incense store in a modernist marble-clad building. They sell serious (and pricey) temple incense on the ground floor, and great “lifestyle incense” on their second floor. I love their matcha incense sticks, but they also sell lovely gifts like incense paper, scented sachets and soaps.

Both Nishi Hongan-ji and Higashi Hongan-ji aren’t very crowded, so I am not going to list any alternatives here. I believe Higashi Hongan-ji, just as impressive in size and decoration, and looking quite similar to its twin, was not included in the UNESCO List as its buildings have been destroyed by several fires and are much “younger”, having been rebuilt in the Meiji era.

Tenryu-ji

Tenryu-ji in Arashiyama is a temple of the Rinzai Zen School of Buddhism, one of the earlier and most historically important ones. They were ranked during the Ashikaga Shogunate, with Nanzen-ji being appointed the “Supervisor”, followed by “First Rank” Tenryu-ji (and then, Shokoku-ji, Kennin-ji, Tofuku-ji and, in fifth rank, Manju-ji, which isn’t open to the public).

This is one I haven’t been to, as Arashiyama always gets very, very busy. I passed through Arashiyama on the bus, and immediately thought “No, thanks” but it’s firmly on the list for a future visit.

So for now, I have no practical tips or photographs, but I am Kyoto UNESCO bingo card in the next year or two and will update accordingly. 

Kinkaku-ji, also known as Rokuon-ji or Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji started its life as the retirement residence and memorial hall of “retired” shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (Ashikaga Shogun No.3) in 1397, when he took over a neglected estate and built several buildings, of whom the reliquary known as “Golden Pavilion” is the one that attracts millions of visitors today. It serves as one of the most famous examples of Muromachi period Style, characterized by elegance and a lot of golden decorations.

After Ashikaga’s death, the whole estate was dedicated as a temple of the Rinzai Zen School of Buddhism, then known as a “noble” Buddhism practiced by the samurai. But that didn’t last too long, because the temple was pretty much razed during the mid-15th Century Onin Wars and only reopened in 1894. Just over 50 years later, it fell victim to an arson attack in 1950, when a trainee monk set it on fire, and was finally rebuilt to its present form in 1955.

This notorious story was retold by Yukio Mishima in its novel “Kinkaku-ji” in 1956. The temple still serves as an affiliate temple of the Rinzai-Shu Shokoku-ji. Read more about it on their website.

Visiting Kinkaku-ji

Of all the famous sights in Kyoto, this is perhaps the most underwhelming for me. It is relatively easy to get to, by several direct and usually very crowded buses from Kyoto Station, Downtown or Gion. You have that one famous view and a very golden building reflected beautifully in a pond, and a few rather unremarkable other buildings – and that’s it.

Still, no matter how busy it gets, they do excellent crowd management here. Several ticket booths and a managed bench-free path guides visitors around the Golden Pavilion then disperses them on the large grounds, with souvenir shops and a few cafes near the exit.

I am not going to say not to visit, becuase Kinkaku-ji is a sight to behold – just be aware there is not a lot else there. Due to the good crowd management, everyone will be able to get a good view and a good photo of the temple. You can easily visit Ryoan-ji and Ninna-ji on the same trip in one long morning.

We were at the gates around fifteen minutes before opening time and waited maybe five minutes to buy our tickets. When we left, the coach park was just filling up, so I think visiting earlier in the day rather than later is preferable. We also noted that buses to and from Kinkaku-ji were very crowded, so this isn’t going to be a crowd-free one but crowds are well managed.

Want the Gold but not the crowds?

Well well well, let’s look for other gilded treasure. Of course, you could just visit Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion instead, which isn’t gilded or silvered at all but a rather elegant wooden building in a similar style sitting in extensive and very beautiful gardens. On the whole, if you have limited time, I’d always say choose the Silver over the Gold Pavilion.

But for gold and no crowds, you’d have to travel to Iwate Prefecture in Northern Japan, where the Konjikido of Chusonji Temple, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers crowd-free dazzle. It’s 900km from Kyoto so best saved for another trip.

Ryoan-ji and its famous Zen Garden

Let’s squeeze in another Zen temple with an altogether completely different vibe between the Gold and Silver Pavilions.

Like its “cousins”, Ryoan-ji started life as a residential estate. In 1450, Hosokawa Katsumoto, a high ranking official of the Shogunate and warlord who co-ignited the Onin War then made a hasty retreat, founded Ryoan-ji, which subsequently got destroyed in the Onin Wars.

The temple was swiftly rebuilt, and to this day there is great controversy when and by whom that famous Zen garden, seventeen stones in a sea of gravel, was built.

And yes, while to some it’s an expanse of raked gravel, others marvel at the genius of this Zen Garden – it even hat an article in “Nature” dedicated to it. 

Visiting Ryoan-ji

To be honest, I love Ryoan-ji. I have visited three times now. Even though it is famous, it does not get too busy, but it’s the luck of the draw sometimes. When a bus full of tourists arrives, it gets busy, but these group tours leave again, quickly. You are welcome to stay as long as you want, and its approach path has plenty little cafes to wait out the rush, and you are welcome to enter the temple and sit on the wooden terrace for as long as you wish. I last visited with my mom during cherry blossom season, with the blossoms on that low tree overhanging the garden wall, just opening up, and it was peaceful. Often, older Western tourists in groups – probably cultural tours, usually behaving very friendly and quietly. You can sit on the viewing platform looking at the garden as long as you like, and the little main hall is extremely pleasant to visit, too.

Ryoan-ji still looking too busy? Here are some Zen Garden alternatives

As I mentioned, I think that Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizudera along with Downtown Kyoto/Gion are the most overrun Kyoto attractions at present, and Ryoan-ji, while quite busy, does not get massive crowds.

But if you’d still rather have a secluded Zen Garden to contemplate, thankfully, there are so many in Kyoto. The largest collection of Zen Gardens can probably found at Daitoku-ji, and this would be my top recommendation. Second in line for me would be Nanzen-ji, with its Leaping Tiger Garden at the main compound and the beautiful Crane and Tortoise Garden at its subtemple Konchi-in. Last not least, Myoshin-ji is another very large Zen Temple, more like a small village, in the vein of Daitoku-ji, where the subtemple of Taizo-in has several Zen and landscape gardens and gets few visitors.

Ginkaku-ji, also known as Jisho-ji or Silver Pavilion

Like the Golden Pavilion, it began its life in 1482 as a retirement residence, by another Ashikaga: Yoshimasa, grandson of Yoshimitsu and Shogun No.8 of the Ashikaga line.

During his younger years, he was more known for intrigue and building palaces rather than governing and he held many a party for moon gazing or incense appreciation at Ginkaku-ji.

It was during his reign that the Onin Wars broke out during which much of Kyoto was destroyed and the building of Ginkaku-ji delayed and not complete until his death – when it was swiftly rededicated at a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple.

Of all the UNESCO-listed temples, this is a temple that has a bit of everything: Easily accessible, famous, elegant, one undeniably stunning photospot, a famous Zen Garden and then, undulating landscape and moss gardens with ponds and a great viewpoint. As with Kinkaku-ji, you will have to be content with viewing the exterior of the buildings only. There are occasionally guided tours of the temple interior in Japanese, but they are generally rare. Som beautiful to look at, not such a suitable temple to learn about Buddhism – Ryoan-ji and Nishi Hongan-ji are probably better suited for that.

And a really nice gift shop where, in the midst of the current matcha craze, I managed to buy a tin of high grade matcha from the temple’s official supplier, no queuing required.

Visiting Ginkaku-ji

When asking yourself whether to visit the Gold or Silver Pavilion, I would say Silver is superior. Its location in a hillside and beautiful zen and landscape gardens, combined with the bit of walking you need to do from the bus stop or large parking area means it gets fewer casual visitors who just blaze through for a photo.

I think the best time to visit is in the morning before the bus tours arrive. It is a bit (5-10min) of an uphill walk from the bus stop and car park, so factor this into your trip. I was there 15minutes before opening time on both my visits in 2024/25, and there were maybe less than ten or fifteen people waiting and even when we left, an hour later, there were no crowds.

If you have time, walk down the road for less than ten minutes to visit Honen-in and Anraku-ji, two beautiful, smaller, and under-visited temples.

Nijo-jo

This feudal castle was erected in 1601 by the third and final of “Japan’s Unifiers”, the warlord and shogun Tokugawa Ieasu, poignantly on a site where the former Imperial Palace had once stood. Nijo-jo therefore is a fairly “modern” castle in Japanese history, if you do not count the rebuilds due to fire and bombing, and it isn’t Kyoto’s first castle, either. That title would go to Fushimi Castle one of the towering kind, completed by his predecessor, Toyotomi Hideoshi, in 1594. It was destroyed just a couple years later in an earthquake, rebuilt, saw the famous siege, Tokugawa’s victor,y, and was finally dismantled, with parts of it used in temples and castles all over Japan, and Fushimi Castle’s Karamon Gate and an entire tower made it to Nijo Castle. Its CEntral keep, was struck by lightning in the 18th Century, and was not rebuilt, so what you see today looks slightly unusual in that it may have the impressive fortifications but no central tower like in pretty much every other Japanese castle.

Most interesting here are the fortifications, which you can see for free, as the castle grounds are free to enter (and cycle in, which is fun), and the Ninomaru Palace. The Ninomaru Palace is an Edo period representative building, with a flight of gloriously gilded and painted rooms, where nobles were received, and it also has the notorious “Nightingale floors” where even the softest footstep could be heard.

Visiting Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle is very easily accessible, with a Metro Line, a JR local line and numerous buses taking you to the Nijojo area. There is only one entrance which is on Horikawa-dori, close to both Metro and bus stops.

Every time I passed, there have been significant crowds queuing at the entrance, which put me off from visiting somewhat, and I am not a massive massive castle fan, so I guess this will be the last site I visit to fill my Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site bingo card.

Where to Stay

With Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage sites spread all over Kyoto – and some quite far out or in Uji – you will want to stay somewhere with great access to public transport.

I have collected a few lovely places to stay here that are close or within easy reach to the sights mentioned in this post – feel free to check out Part One for some different recommendations.

Since Uji is a very easy day trip, all my recommendations are  based in Kyoto, with the exception of Hanayashiki Ukifune-en.

Hanayashiki Ukifune-en, Uji

For those wanting to go on early sightseeing and matcha buying trips before most visitors arrive, I recommend Hanayashiki Ukifune-en, a large ryokan hotel that appears to combine the best of both worlds: large rooms with tatami flooring, onsen baths, a choice of futon or Western beds – at fairly consistent pricing of about 100 Euro per guest per night.

Higurashi-Sou

This charming in in a sympathetically renovated historical Kyoto Townhouse is a gem in the neighbourhood of Nijo-jo, with very easy and non-crowded bus connections to Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji (No.204), Ryoan-ji (No.55) and, of course, Kyoto Station and Nishi Hongan-ji (No. 9, 50 and others). Its rooms are simple, and facilities are shared, but come with free bicycle hire and sento tickets. It gets often booked up – so plan your stay at Higurashi-Sou well in advance. I have stayed there , and you can read my full review here. Expect to pay about 40 euro per person, more in high season.

Gallery Nozawa Inn

For visiting Southern Kyoto, good access to Kyoto Station – and staying in a charming area less frequented by tourists, you should take a look at ex pleasure quarter Shimabara – and the charming Gallery Nowawa Inn, another restored townhouse with just two rooms where you are lovingly looked after by the owner couple who live on site. The attention to detail here is outstanding, and it feels more like staying with a family, and rooms are very big and more consequently Japanese style. I stayed there in 2025, and you can find my full review here. Expect to pay from about 50 Euro per person – even as a solo traveller I only paid about 55 Euro for a huge room including breakfast.

Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo

Last not least, let me throw one of those easy-peasy Western-style hotels that come a notch above standard Business hotels in the best location for travelling around Kyoto. For me, this location is anywhere between Kyoto City Hall and Keihan Sanjo stations, with access to Kyoto Metro, Keihan Railway, and loads of buses – and easy walking to many restaurants and shops.

The Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo is a mid-sized modern hotel in a quiet Downtown street, with smallish but big enough modern and very comfortable rooms – starting at around 40 Euro for a single room, which is a steal for central Kyoto three-star hotel. You can read my full review here.

They operate a nearly identical Hotel the Prince Smart Inn Shijo Omiya, a somewhat busier Downtown location, but with direct access to Osaka by Hankyu Railway, and direct access to Arashiyama on the cute Randen tram.

The Prince Smart Inn is a small Japanese chain aiming to provide “convenience and functionality and a level of “seamless service that virtually eliminates waiting”. Well.. whatever that means, but the hotel I stayed in so far was definitely very comfortable and convenient and at a great price. They are part of the large Seibu Group which part owns a couple private railway companies and the fancier Prince Hotels.

The Small Print

This is Part Two of my UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kyoto, due to the post getting longer and longer. So I decided to split it in two, with the older UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kyoto in Part One, and the newer ones (well, quite a few will essentially a thousand years old) in this post.

I visited Kyoto by myself or with family several times between 2004 and 2025, first staying just one night in a cheap business hotel, then often just for a night or two on a fairly touristy itinerary. When I returned to Kyoto after a long hiatus in May 2024, I started visiting places off the beaten track.

All trips were organised and paid for by myself. All reviews are unbiased and reflect my personal experience only. I have some affiliate links to Booking.com and Agoda in this post, and I may earn a small commission if you book your accommodation using this link. I only recommend places I have either stayed in myself or at least would stay in myself, so your support of this site, if you find the information helpful, is very much appreciated.

I don’t run ads (hate them, use an ad blocker myself) and I am not going to put any affiliates in here that I am not using myself so other than Booking and occasionally Agoda, you’re likely not going to find anything much here in terms of advertising, since my travel money comes from a regular job, not this web site. Any commission earned will primarily go towards web hosting, buying more photo storage, and, should things really turn out well, books and travel, but the way things are now, this blog is 100% a hobby.

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