Cultural heritage in Kyoto
National Treasure buildings and historic districts in Kyoto.
Momoyama · Shrines · National Treasures
Kitano Tenmangu
Kyoto, Kyoto
The head shrine of all the Tenmangu and Tenjin shrines that honor Sugawara no Michizane. Its National Treasure sanctuary, built by Toyotomi Hideyori in 1607, is a Momoyama building linking the main sanctuary and worship hall through the Ishi-no-ma, and the grounds open seasonal plum and maple gardens.
Momoyama · Temples · National Treasures
Nishi Hongan-ji
Kyoto, Kyoto
The head temple of the Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu, which grew from the mausoleum of Shinran. Eight National Treasure buildings stand here, including the vast Founder's Hall and Amida Hall, the richly carved Karamon Gate, the gold-painted shoin halls, the oldest surviving Noh stage and the three-story Hiunkaku Pavilion.
Momoyama · Castles · National Treasures
Nijo Castle
Kyoto, Kyoto
Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nijo Castle keeps the Ninomaru Palace, six linked halls that form the only castle palace complex surviving in Japan. Inside are Kano school wall paintings, "nightingale" floors that chirp underfoot, and the Ohiroma hall where the shogun returned power to the emperor in 1867.
Momoyama · Temples · National Treasures
Sanpo-in
Kyoto, Kyoto
At Sanpo-in you can see the National Treasure Omote Shoin, which borrows from the shinden style, and the National Treasure Karamon Gate, its black lacquer set off by gold crests. In front of the Omote Shoin spreads the garden, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty whose basic design Toyotomi Hideyoshi drew up for the Daigo Cherry Blossom Viewing.
Heian · Temples · National Treasures
Daigo-ji
Kyoto, Kyoto
At Daigo-ji you can see the Five-Story Pagoda, said to be the oldest wooden building in Kyoto Prefecture, and the Kondo in the lower precinct, and the Yakushi Hall and the cliff-hung Seiryu-gu Worship Hall on the mountaintop at Kami-Daigo. The temple counts six National Treasure buildings in all; the two at Sanpo-in are covered on the Sanpo-in page.
Edo · Shrines · National Treasures
Kamowakeikazuchi Shrine (Kamigamo Shrine)
Kyoto, Kyoto
At Kamigamo Shrine you can view the Main Sanctuary and the Gonden, two National Treasure buildings rebuilt in 1863, up close on a special visit. Also worth seeing are the sand cones modeled on Mount Koyama and the shrine buildings spread over a slope where two streams meet.
Momoyama · Temples · National Treasures
Daitoku-ji
Kyoto, Kyoto
At Daitoku-ji you can walk through a Zen temple compound whose main buildings line up north to south, along with its many sub-temples. The head temple, with the National Treasure Hojo, its entrance and the Momoyama-period Karamon Gate, is normally closed, so visitors see the layout from outside.
Kamakura · Temples · National Treasures
To-ji (Kyoogokoku-ji)
Kyoto, Kyoto
Entrusted by Emperor Saga to the monk Kukai, To-ji is the head training temple of Shingon Buddhism. Its five-story pagoda, about 55 m tall and said to be Japan's tallest wooden tower, rises just south of Kyoto Station, and the grounds hold National Treasure halls such as the Momoyama-period Kondo and the Muromachi-period Daishi-do.
Momoyama · Temples · National Treasures
Ninna-ji
Kyoto, Kyoto
The head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism, completed by Emperor Uda in 888 and long headed by abbots from the imperial family. Its National Treasure Kondo is the Shishinden hall moved from the imperial palace, seen together with the Nio Gate, the five-story pagoda and the late-blooming Omuro cherry trees.
Edo · Shrines · National Treasures
Kamomioya Shrine (Shimogamo Shrine)
Kyoto, Kyoto
At Shimogamo Shrine you can see the East and West Main Sanctuaries, two National Treasure buildings from 1863 standing side by side, along with the Tadasu no Mori forest to the south and the Mitarashi Pond linked to the Aoi Festival. The special viewing also takes you into the Oidono, the kitchen of the deities.
Momoyama · Temples · National Treasures
Nanzen-ji
Kyoto, Kyoto
A head temple of the Rinzai school, begun when the retired Emperor Kameyama turned his villa into a Zen temple. In the National Treasure Hojo you can see wall paintings in the Large and Small Hojo, moved from the imperial palace, and the dry garden known as Tiger Cubs Crossing.
Muromachi · Temples · National Treasures
Jisho-ji (Ginkaku-ji)
Kyoto, Kyoto
Built at the Higashiyama villa of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the eighth Muromachi shogun, the Kannon-den (Silver Pavilion) and his private chapel, the Togu-do, are both National Treasures. Modeled on the Golden Pavilion but left unadorned, the building and the garden Yoshimasa helped shape still carry the quiet taste of Higashiyama culture.
Edo · Temples · National Treasures
Chion-in
Kyoto, Kyoto
The head temple of the Jodo school, standing where its founder Honen once lived and taught. Two great Early Edo buildings here are National Treasures: the Sanmon Gate, one of the largest wooden gates in Japan, and the Miedo Hall, which enshrines Honen's portrait statue.
Muromachi · Temples · National Treasures
Tofuku-ji
Kyoto, Kyoto
At Tofuku-ji you can see the National Treasure Sanmon Gate, described as the oldest and largest surviving Zen temple gate, along with the statues and ceiling paintings on its upper floor. You can also visit the medieval Zendo and Tosu, Shigemori Mirei's Hojo gardens and Tsutenkyo bridge, famous for autumn colors.
Kamakura · Temples · National Treasures
Myoho-in and Sanjusangen-do
Kyoto, Kyoto
Sanjusangen-do's slender main hall, about 120 m long, holds 1,001 standing statues of the thousand-armed Kannon ranked on tiered platforms; the hall itself was rebuilt in 1266 and is a Kamakura-period National Treasure. Myoho-in, the temple that owns it, also has a National Treasure kitchen hall from the Momoyama period.
Edo · Temples · National Treasures
Kiyomizu-dera
Kyoto, Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera's main hall, rebuilt in 1633, juts out from the slope of Mount Otowa on 18 zelkova pillars in the kakezukuri style and is a National Treasure. Look out over Kyoto from its famous stage, then gaze up at the nail-free timber framing from below. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage site.
Edo · Shrines · National Treasures
Yasaka Shrine
Kyoto, Kyoto
A shrine at the east end of Shijo-dori, known for the Gion Festival. Its National Treasure Main Sanctuary was rebuilt by the Edo shogunate in 1654, and is distinctive for covering the sanctuary and worship hall with a single great roof.
Edo · Shrines · National Treasures
Iwashimizu Hachimangu
Yawata, Kyoto
A Hachiman shrine on top of Mount Otokoyama, where you can see ten National Treasure buildings, including the Hachiman-zukuri main sanctuary rebuilt under Tokugawa Iemitsu. Its richly colored carvings, the Nobunaga Wall and the approach path climbing from the foot of the hill are also worth seeing.
Edo · Temples · National Treasures
Manpuku-ji
Uji, Kyoto
The head temple of the Obaku school of Zen, founded by Yinyuan (Ingen), where three National Treasure halls in the Chinese Ming style, the Tennoden, the Daiyuhoden and the Hatto, stand in a straight line. You can see designs rarely found at other temples, such as the teak main hall and the arched Obaku ceilings.
Heian · Shrines · National Treasures
Ujigami Shrine
Uji, Kyoto
At Ujigami Shrine you can see two National Treasures: the late Heian Main Sanctuary, considered the oldest surviving shrine building, and the early Kamakura Worship Hall in the shinden-zukuri residential style. Byodo-in stands across the Uji River, so the two are easy to visit together.
Heian · Temples · National Treasures
Byodo-in
Uji, Kyoto
Built by Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1053, the Phoenix Hall spreads its wing corridors out from a central hall enshrining Amida Buddha and is mirrored in the pond in front, a National Treasure familiar from the ¥10 coin. Inside you can see Jocho's seated Amida Buddha.
Heian · Temples · National Treasures
Joruri-ji
Kizugawa, Kyoto
At Joruri-ji you can see the late Heian Main Hall, where nine Amida statues sit in a row, and the Three-Story Pagoda facing it across a pond. The layout of the grounds, centered on a garden that represents the Pure Land paradise, is also worth seeing.
Historic districts
Gion Shinbashi, Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Gion Shinbashi is a teahouse quarter where ochaya-style townhouses with lattices and bamboo blinds line the Shirakawa stream. Its two-story houses, built just after the great fire of 1865, stand together with the stone paving and rows of cherry trees to form a quintessential Kyoto scene.
Historic districts
Sannenzaka, Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Sanneizaka grew up as a temple town along the old pilgrim paths to Kiyomizu-dera and the Gion shrine, with townhouses lining the stone steps and winding cobbled slopes of Sanneizaka and Ninenzaka. Walk it to see how the Yasaka Pagoda, Kodai-ji and the old streets come together in a classic Higashiyama view.
More from Kyoto
Discover more of the same region on our sister sites.
Matsuri Biyori
UNESCO-listed festivals in Kyoto
- Yamahoko, the float ceremony of the Kyoto Gion festival
- Kyoto no Rokusai Nenbutsu
- Yasuraibana
- Kuta no Hanagasa Odori
Meiga no Furusato
Paintings linked to Kyoto
- View of Amanohashidate
- Viewing Maple Leaves
- Scenes in and around Kyoto (Funaki Version)
- Morning View of Uji River