Best Shrines And Temples In Japan

Here're best Shrines And Temples in Japan. We released a ranking of reviews about Shrines And Temples posted by travel influencers who have actually been to Japan.

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Instagrammable Shrine And Temple

Yasaka Koshin-do Temple

8 Reviews

I wrote my wish on a colorful ball at Yasaka Koshin-do Temple in Kyoto. It's a nice place my heart leaps up just looking at them. Your Instagram must be able to get many likes!

Takaya Shrine

10 Reviews

Takaya Shrine is located at Inazumi Mountain which is over 400m above the sea level. The reason for the popularity is the world seen over the Torii in the sky! Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Kan'onji are very moving scenery. A reward which comes after climbing up the mountain.◎Walk: 40 min from the parking lot of the foot of the mountain. The road is paved in the first half, but after that, it a mountain path. And there're steep steps at the end near the top. Car: you can access to the shrine by car from Fudo Waterfall.

Hase-dera Temple

12 Reviews

A Head Temple Hase-dera in Nara Prefecture. It's famous for a flower temple, but what we see first of all after the gate, is this beautiful and long steps. On a New Year's Eve, they will hold a memorial ceremony 'Mandoue' and the whole precinct will wrapped in warm lights.

Shrines & Temples With Beautiful Torii

Takaya Shrine

10 Reviews

Takaya Shrine is located at Inazumi Mountain which is over 400m above the sea level. The reason for the popularity is the world seen over the Torii in the sky! Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Kan'onji are very moving scenery. A reward which comes after climbing up the mountain.◎Walk: 40 min from the parking lot of the foot of the mountain. The road is paved in the first half, but after that, it a mountain path. And there're steep steps at the end near the top. Car: you can access to the shrine by car from Fudo Waterfall.

Itsukushima Shrine

16 Reviews

You can see various beautiful figures of Itsukushima Shrine by the tidal current because its precinct partly belongs to the sea. Big Torii floating on the sea at high tide is wonderful, but what is more, at low tide, you can walk to it and see the beautiful reflection in the pool.◎The most beautiful reflection can be seen when the Torii is soaked a little bit in the water. You need to look for a pool with no waves.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

14 Reviews

When going through under Sembon Torii, you can feel like to come into the mysterious another world. Here's a great spot you can feel the exotic Japanese atmosphere.

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Kansai

Yokokuji-Temple

17 Reviews

Yanagidani Kannon, famous for hydrangeas. A lot of hydrangeas in the precincts are in full bloom. The colorful flower wash basins placed in various places and the umbrella sky with hydrangea pattern that started this year are also beautiful. Potted hydrangeas were lined up on the steps of the torii next to the main hall, and it was a wonderful photo spot.

Shoju-in Temple

18 Reviews

Shouju-in Temple is famous for the lovely heart-shaped window called Inome-mado. Not only the window, I was fascinated with the beautiful paintings on the ceiling that are different one by one. In summer, you can also enjoy tea in the beautiful sounds of wind bell.

Toji Temple

13 Reviews

You can go to Toji Temple from the Kyoto station on foot. The fivefold pagoda is highest in Japan and a popular sightseeing spot in Kyoto. Moreover, you can see a Shidare Zakura, a weeping cherry tree in spring. Illuminated cherry blossoms at night are very fantastic.

Chugoku

Itsukushima Shrine

16 Reviews

You can see various beautiful figures of Itsukushima Shrine by the tidal current because its precinct partly belongs to the sea. Big Torii floating on the sea at high tide is wonderful, but what is more, at low tide, you can walk to it and see the beautiful reflection in the pool.◎The most beautiful reflection can be seen when the Torii is soaked a little bit in the water. You need to look for a pool with no waves.

Motonosumi Inari Shrine

5 Reviews

Here's selected as one of the 31 most beautiful places in Japan by CNN in the United States. The impressing scenery spreading in front of my eyes.

Kibitsu Shrine

2 Reviews

This is a shrine of Kibitsuhiko-no Mikoto, a model of an Japanese folk tale 'Momotaro'. Its precinct is huge and has many things to see. Among them, beautiful cloister as long as 400 meters making the best use of nature slope is the very highlight. You can see the scenery of impressive atmosphere.◎Parking lot: free Entrance fee: free It's also famous for seasonal flowers such as hydrangea, Japanese tree peony and Japanese plum trees.

Shikoku

Takaya Shrine

10 Reviews

Takaya Shrine is located at Inazumi Mountain which is over 400m above the sea level. The reason for the popularity is the world seen over the Torii in the sky! Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Kan'onji are very moving scenery. A reward which comes after climbing up the mountain.◎Walk: 40 min from the parking lot of the foot of the mountain. The road is paved in the first half, but after that, it a mountain path. And there're steep steps at the end near the top. Car: you can access to the shrine by car from Fudo Waterfall.

Kotohira-gu (Kompira-san)

8 Reviews

Above the hard distance of 1368 stone steps, there's an inner place 'Izutama Shrine'. It's called a protecting god of this main Kotohira Shrine and filled with spiritual power. And, only people who reach here at last can get this original good-luck charm embroidered 'tengu' with such a power.

Enman-ji Temple

6 Reviews

Enman-ji Temple is located on the upward of the slope behind Dogo Onsen, and famous for the colorful wishing-balls. If you hold the wishing-ball on your palm and wish good relationship with others, then it may come true. The temple has been well-known as a lovely spiritual power spot since it appeared in SNS.

Kyushu・Okinawa

Ōuo Shrine

4 Reviews

When the tide is low, we can walk under the torii arch standing in the sea. It shows us the different scenery by the time we visit here.

Dazaifutenmangu

5 Reviews

Dazaifutenmangu is a major shrine for success in the entrance examination. Even on snowy days, the fortune slips with a color of pink plum blossom are beautiful! I felt the many prayers of many students who had tried to get over the hard winter and get happy spring.◎It has an easy access by train and bus. And there's a large parking area.

Sakurai Futamigaura

11 Reviews

Here's a very photogenic spot of a white torii arch which stands in front of husband-and-wife rocks and looks beautiful with the blue sky and the sea. The time of evening glow is nice of course, if you visit around noon, the tide is not low and we can see the beautiful figure standing on the sea.

Hokkaido・Tohoku

Houjyu-san Risshaku-ji Temple

4 Reviews

The Risshaku-ji shrine is known as a mountain shrine appears in haiku composed by Basho. Its snowscape is as good as the season of singing cicadas. When you visit the shrine, please be careful where you step.

Entsu'u-in Temple

2 Reviews

Entsu'u-in Temple has just started the light-up of autumn colored trees. Though the trees remains green, the lights change its colors and makes good mood. I think momiji (Japanese maple tree) reflected on the water mirror will dye in red from now and fascinate us with its beautiful autumn colors.◎Addmission fee: 500 yen

Shiramizu Amidado Temple

3 Reviews

The ancient lotus flowers become full-bloom from now on at Shiramizu Amidado Temple. Many people come to see them and say 'how beautiful!' in unison.

Kanto

Senso-ji Temple

13 Reviews

Asakusa is excellent with Kimono, Japanese traditional dress. Kimono looks beautiful at Senso-ji Temple and Edo-machi around it. In the season of New Year Days, Nakamise-dori is decorated with New Year ornaments, and we can enjoy happier atmosphere than usual.

Meigetsuin Temple

11 Reviews

Kamakura is renown for hydrangea in this season, and Meigetsuin Temple is one of the most popular places. There're 2500 trees of hydrangea in beautiful colors admired as 'Meigetsuin Blue'. You can meet the beautiful scenery of rainy season, together with the bamboo grove.◎To enjoy seeing and taking pictures of hydrangeas enough, it'll be better for you to visit as soon as Meigetsuin Temple opens, or about one hour before it closes.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine

7 Reviews

The most famous thing in Nikko Toshogu Shrine is this Yōmei-mon Arch. It's resistered as a world heritage. This Yomeimon gate has an Edo period architectural style, crafts, sculptures, paintings, and all of the cultures of this age.  

Tokai

Wakeoe Shrine

5 Reviews

It is a photogenic shrine in Nagoya. Seasonal flowers are displayed in the Chozuya. Purple flowers are spreading in the water and it is beautiful. Flowers and Japanese umbrellas are displayed in front of the shrine and are colorful. There is also a Japanese umbrella for rent, so you can take a picture with the Japanese umbrella in your hand.

Okuni Shrine

7 Reviews

Okuni Shrine is a famous spot to see autumn colors in Shizuoka. Its highlight is the ray of light falling to the bridge. It appears at 8:30 in the morning. Many people come and fill up the place to take pictures, so it's better for you to go earlier than the morning sun rises!

Ise Jingu Shrine [Kotai Jingu]

10 Reviews

Your wish may come true, if you set the photo for a standby screen of your phone. Red-white carp is for a lucky with love, and gold one for money.

Hokuriku

Nata-dera Temple

2 Reviews

Started in 717, with a history of 1300 years, Nata-dera Temple has some nationally designated important cultural properties. And this wonderful view around 'Kigan Yusenkyou (strangely shaped rocks and a gorge a wizard living) was read in Matsuo Basho's haiku 'ishiyama no, ishi yori shiroshi, aki no kaze.' (Whiter than rocks of a rock mountain, an autumn wind)

Oyama Shrine

3 Reviews

Toshiie Maeda is the deity of this Oyama Shrine. Shin-mon gate is famous for its novel design with a colorful stained glass. At one time, the god's light had reached far away to the Japan Sea. And, on the top, there's the oldest lightning rod in Japan.

Eiheiji Temple

2 Reviews

Eihei-ji Temple itself is beautiful, and its ceiling picture of a large hall called Sanshokaku is specially worth seeing! You can experience hand-copying of sutra (shakyo) and Buddhism meditation (zazen).

Review Ranking

1
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You can see various beautiful figures of Itsukushima Shrine by the tidal current because its precinct partly belongs to the sea. Big Torii floating on the sea at high tide is wonderful, but what is more, at low tide, you can walk to it and see the beautiful reflection in the pool.◎The most beautiful reflection can be seen when the Torii is soaked a little bit in the water. You need to look for a pool with no waves.

Name

Itsukushima Shrine

Address

1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi, HiroshimaGoogle Map

Tel

0829-44-2020

Hours

6:30-18:00

How to get there

Go to Miyajima-guchi Station of JR or Hiroden (streetcar), then walk to ferry terminal. There're two ferry terminals of Matsudai Kisen or JR, both of them go to Miyajima for 10 or 15 min. To Itsukushima Shrine, 10 min walk from Miyajima Port.

2
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Yanagidani Kannon, famous for hydrangeas. A lot of hydrangeas in the precincts are in full bloom. The colorful flower wash basins placed in various places and the umbrella sky with hydrangea pattern that started this year are also beautiful. Potted hydrangeas were lined up on the steps of the torii next to the main hall, and it was a wonderful photo spot.

Name

Yokokuji-Temple

Address

2Jododanidonodani, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto, JapanGoogle Map

Tel

075-956-0017

Hours

9:00-17:00

How to get there

10 min by car, from Nishiyamatennozan Station

Parking

Parking area is available

3
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Shouju-in Temple is famous for the lovely heart-shaped window called Inome-mado. Not only the window, I was fascinated with the beautiful paintings on the ceiling that are different one by one. In summer, you can also enjoy tea in the beautiful sounds of wind bell.

Name

Shoju-in Temple

Address

149 Kawakami Okuyamada Ujitawara-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

0774-88-3601 

Hours

8:30-16:30

How to get there

By bus, 30 min from JR Uji Station or Kintetsu Shintanabe Station to Ichumae, and change bus to Okuyamada for 15 min, then walk 10 min. By car, 60 min from Kyoto city. Free parking area is available.

Parking

Parking area is available

4
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You can go to Toji Temple from the Kyoto station on foot. The fivefold pagoda is highest in Japan and a popular sightseeing spot in Kyoto. Moreover, you can see a Shidare Zakura, a weeping cherry tree in spring. Illuminated cherry blossoms at night are very fantastic.

Name

Toji Temple

Address

1 Kujyo-cho Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-691-3325

Hours

5:00-17:00

How to get there

15 min walk from Kyoto Station, or 10 min walk from Toji Station. By bus, 10 min from Kyoto Station to Toji-mae.

Parking

Parking area is available

5
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Takaya Shrine is located at Inazumi Mountain which is over 400m above the sea level. The reason for the popularity is the world seen over the Torii in the sky! Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Kan'onji are very moving scenery. A reward which comes after climbing up the mountain.◎Walk: 40 min from the parking lot of the foot of the mountain. The road is paved in the first half, but after that, it a mountain path. And there're steep steps at the end near the top. Car: you can access to the shrine by car from Fudo Waterfall.

Name

Takaya Shrine

Address

2800 Muromoto-cho, Kanonji-shi, KagawaGoogle Map

How to get there

By car, 60 min from Sanuki Toyonaka IC via Fudō Waterfall, to the nearest parking area, and walk 150 meters. Or, 20 min from Sanuki Toyonaka IC to the mountain foot shrine, then 40 min walk to the upper shrine.

Parking

Parking area is available

6
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Asakusa is excellent with Kimono, Japanese traditional dress. Kimono looks beautiful at Senso-ji Temple and Edo-machi around it. In the season of New Year Days, Nakamise-dori is decorated with New Year ornaments, and we can enjoy happier atmosphere than usual.

Name

Senso-ji Temple

Address

2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, TokyoGoogle Map

Tel

03-3842-0181

Hours

6:00-17:00

Fee

Adult 0 yen、Child 0 yen

How to get there

5 min walk from Asakusa Station. By car or taxi, 30 min from Shinagawa Station, 20 min from Tokyo Station or 50 min from Hanada Airport.

Parking

Nearby toll parking area is available

7
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When going through under Sembon Torii, you can feel like to come into the mysterious another world. Here's a great spot you can feel the exotic Japanese atmosphere.

Name

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Address

68 Fukakusayabunouchi-cho Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-641-7331

Hours

8:30-16:30

How to get there

Just near JR Inari Station, or 5 min walk from Keihan Fushimi Inari Station. By bus, 15 min from Kyoto to Inaritaisha, then 7 min walk. By car, 20 min from Kyoto Minami IC.

Parking

Free parking area is available

8
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Hase-dera Temple has so long and beautiful 399 steps. For it's called 'flower temple', you can enjoy seeing peony and cherry blossoms in summer, hydrangea in summer, autumn leaves, winter-peony and winter-cherry blossoms. What's more, the lush mountain seen from the main temple is just amazing view.

Name

Hase-dera Temple

Address

731-1 Hase, Sakurai-shi, NaraGoogle Map

How to get there

15 min walk from Kintetsu Hasedera Station. By car, 50 min from Nara city, 75 min from Osaka, or 110 min from Kyoto city. Toll parking area is available.

Parking

Toll parking area is available

9
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Nanzen-ji Suiro-kaku is a part of Biwa Lake Canal to bring the water to Kyoto from Biwa Lake. The beautiful arched bridges built of bricks considered the temple scenery and were designed in Meiji Era. They bring the water now in active service.

Name

Nanzen-ji Temple

Address

Nanzenji Fukuchi-cho Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

How to get there

10 min walk from Keage Station. 25 min by bus from Kyoto Station to Nanzenji Eikando, then 10 min walk.

10
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The spring special visiting is opened till 6/15 in 2018. The relaxing room extends here. The table room, which has been a hot topic in SNS, you can see various reflections from different directions. And, it's so gorgeous and beautiful.

Name

Ruriko-in Temple

Address

55 Higashiyama Kamitakano Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-781-4001

Fee

Adult 2000 yen、Child 0 yen

How to get there

5 min walk from Yase Hieizan-guchi Station, 5 min walk from Yase Station. By bus, 50 min from Kyoto Station to Yase Station, then 7 min walk.

Parking

Nearby toll parking area is available

11
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Kifune Shrine changes its appearance in each season. From spring to summer, you can see the lively scenery of fresh green.

Name

Kifune Shrine

Address

180 Kibune-cho Kurama Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Fee

Adult 0 yen、Child 0 yen

How to get there

5 min from Kifune-guchi Station of Eizan Train to 'Kifune', then walk 5 min.

Parking

Toll parking area is available

12
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Kiyomizu Temple, an unmissable spot for sightseeing in Kyoto. During the special honor of visiting held three times in a year, the blue light goes through the sky in Kyoto. This light, they says, expresses the mercy of Kwannon.

Name

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Address

1-294 Kiyomizu Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-551-1234

Hours

6:00-18:30

Fee

Adult 400 yen、Child 200 yen

How to get there

By bus, 10 min from Kyoto Station to Gojōzaka, then 10 min walk. By car or taxi, 15 min from Kyoto Station.

Parking

Nearby toll parking area is available

13
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Kamakura is renown for hydrangea in this season, and Meigetsuin Temple is one of the most popular places. There're 2500 trees of hydrangea in beautiful colors admired as 'Meigetsuin Blue'. You can meet the beautiful scenery of rainy season, together with the bamboo grove.◎To enjoy seeing and taking pictures of hydrangeas enough, it'll be better for you to visit as soon as Meigetsuin Temple opens, or about one hour before it closes.

Name

Meigetsuin Temple

Address

189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura-shi, KanagawaGoogle Map

Tel

0467-24-3437

Hours

9:00-16:00

How to get there

10 min walk from Kitakamakura Station. 7 min by bus from Kamakura Station to Meigetsuin Temple. No parking area.

Parking

No parking area

14
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I wrote my wish on a colorful ball at Yasaka Koshin-do Temple in Kyoto. It's a nice place my heart leaps up just looking at them. Your Instagram must be able to get many likes!

Name

Yasaka Koshin-do Temple

Address

390-1 Kin'en-cho Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Hours

9:00-17:00

Fee

Adult 0 yen、Child 0 yen

How to get there

By bus, 12 min from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-michi, then 3 min walk. By bus or taxi, 12 min from Kyoto Station, 7 min from Keihan Shijo Station.

Parking

Nearby toll parking area is available

15
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We cannot always see this flower purification fountain (Chozusha: a place for purification of your hands and mouth before you enter shrines or temples). And the flowers change every season. If you have a good chance to visit, I want you to see it.

Name

Shōrin-ji Temple

Address

15-795 Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-561-4311

Hours

9:00-17:00

How to get there

7 min walk from Tofukuji Station. 1 min by car or taxi from Kyoto Station.

Parking

Parking area is available

16
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A good sightseeing spot that you can appreciate the seasons and the history of Kyoto.

Name

Kinkakuji Temple

Address

1 Kinkakuji-cho Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-461-0013

Hours

9:00-17:00

Fee

Adult 400 yen、Child 300 yen

How to get there

By car, 25 min from Kyoto Higashi IC, 30 min from Kyoto Minami IC. By bus, 30 min from Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji Michi, then walk 5 min.

Parking

Toll parking area is available

17
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Above the hard distance of 1368 stone steps, there's an inner place 'Izutama Shrine'. It's called a protecting god of this main Kotohira Shrine and filled with spiritual power. And, only people who reach here at last can get this original good-luck charm embroidered 'tengu' with such a power.

Name

Kotohira-gu (Kompira-san)

Address

892-1 Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, KagawaGoogle Map

Tel

0877-75-2121

Hours

6:00-18:00

How to get there

To the lowest entrance, by car, 15min from Zentsuji IC, 50min from Takamatsu Airport. The toll parking areas are available. Or, 10min walk from Kotoden Kotohira Station.

Parking

Nearby toll parking area is available

18
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It's one of the sites of Kyo's (Kyoto's) Star Festival, which has been held eight times until this year. The bamboo leaves in the illuminated precinct are fantastic. You can enjoy quiet and cool atmosphere of summer.◎Kyo's Star Fastival is held on the lunar day of star festival. During the festival, various events are carried out at this shrine.

Name

Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine

Address

931 Bakuro-cho Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, KyotoGoogle Map

Tel

075-461-0005

Hours

5:00-18:00

How to get there

30 min by bus from Kyoto Station. 5 min walk from Hakubai-cho Station. 25 min by car or taxi from Kyoto Station. Free parking area is available.

Parking

Free parking area is available

19
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Katsuoji Temple is famous for Daruma. Many people visit this temple to pray for luck of victory in various scenes such as examination, employment, and business. And so many Daruma are dedicated throughout the temple.

Name

Katsuoji Temple

Address

2914-1 Aomatani, Mino-shi, OsakaGoogle Map

Tel

072-721-7010

Hours

8:00-17:00 [Sat]8:00-17:30 [Sun・Holidays]8:00-18:00

How to get there

20 min by car or taxi from Mino Station.

Parking

Toll parking area is available

20
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Han'nya-ji Temple is well known as a cosmos temple. From September to November, there're 150 thousand and 30 kinds of cosmos are in bloom. It's very photogenic to take pictures of a temple and 13 storied stone pagoda over the cosmos!◎Parking lot is free during weekdays. On holidays, one car for 1 hour will be free, but more than that, you need 500yen.

Name

Han'nya-ji Temple

Address

221 Han'nyaji-cho, Nara-shi, NaraGoogle Map

How to get there

10 min by bus from Nara Station to Hannyaji, then 3 min walk. By car, 60 min from Osaka, 60 min from Kyoto city. Toll parking area is available.

Parking

Toll parking area is available

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