Kyoto: Local Specialties, Souvenirs, Shrines & Temples, Sightseeing | Japan 47 Prefecture Guide
Kyoto's specialities, crafts and beliefs can all be explained by one thing: the demand was right there. The court, the nobility, the temples and shrines, the tea ceremony. Makers and users lived in the same town.
Local Specialties
Kyoto vegetables are heirloom varieties: Kamo aubergine, Shogoin daikon, Kujo leek, Kintoki carrot. The Kyoto basin is inland, and fish did not reach it easily. So vegetables and dried goods became the centre of the cooking.
Kyoto pickles follow the same logic: senmaizuke, suguki, shibazuke. Knowledge for keeping food became the speciality itself. A shape we have seen again and again in this series.
Uji tea makes gyokuro and matcha by shading the plants from the sun before harvest. Where Shizuoka is near the top for volume, Uji developed in answer to the demand of the tea ceremony.
Souvenirs
Yatsuhashi began as a hard cracker of rice flour, sugar and cinnamon, steamed then baked. Nama-yatsuhashi, in which the dough is left unbaked and wrapped around bean paste, is a comparatively recent form.
Kyoto pickles, matcha confectionery, shichimi from Gojo. And a Kyoto fan or a small Kyo-yaki dish. For crafts as souvenirs, no other prefecture offers as much choice.
Sacred Sites | Shrines & Temples
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Japan's Inari shrines (about 30,000 shrines). Kiyomizudera and Kamigamo Jinja and Shimogamo Jinja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 52 shrines and temples worth knowing in Kyoto.
Fushimi Inari Taisha(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Important Cultural Property / Kyoto City / Head shrine of Inari shrines (about 30,000 shrines) / Blessings: business prosperity, wealth, good harvests
Every one of the thousand torii was dedicated by a worshipper. The donor's name and the date are carved on the back of each post. That view was not designed; it is what prayers look like when they pile up. The deity began as a god of rice, and later drew the faith of merchants as a god of business.
Kiyomizudera(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships, warding off misfortune, long life
The main hall is a National Treasure. That famous platform is built by joining timber without a single nail, in the kakezukuri method: an earlier generation's solution to building on a slope.
Kamigamo Jinja(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Yamashiro Province / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune, good fortune
A shrine that stood here before Heiankyo was built. The capital came afterwards.
Shimogamo Jinja(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Yamashiro Province / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships, warding off misfortune
The Tadasu no Mori in its grounds is close to primeval forest, surviving in the middle of the city. With Kamigamo it holds the Aoi festival.
Kitano Tenmangu(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / One of the Three Great Tenjin Shrines / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Head shrine of Tenmangu shrines (about 12,000 shrines; one of the two head shrines, with Dazaifu) / Blessings: study and exams
It enshrines Sugawara no Michizane. One of the centres of Tenjin belief, it draws worshippers from all over Japan in exam season.
Yasaka Jinja(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Head shrine of Yasaka and Gion shrines (about 2,300 shrines) / Blessings: warding off misfortune, love and relationships
The shrine of the Gion festival. The festival began as a rite to quiet epidemic disease, and is now UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Kinkakuji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Special Historic Site / Kyoto City / Blessings: good fortune, wealth
The villa of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, turned into a temple. Each of the three storeys of the relic hall is in a different architectural style.
Ginkakuji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: good fortune
The Silver Pavilion and the Togudo are National Treasures. The study room of the Togudo is held to be the prototype of the modern Japanese room.
Ryoanji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Special Place of Scenic Beauty / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
The rock garden sets fifteen stones so that, from wherever you look, one of them is always hidden.
Toji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / head temple of the Toji Shingon school / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune, study and exams
Its five-storey pagoda stands about 55 metres, the tallest surviving wooden pagoda in Japan. Granted to Kukai, it became the central seat of Shingon esoteric Buddhism.
Heian Jingu(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Important Cultural Property / Place of Scenic Beauty / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships, good fortune
Founded to mark 1,100 years since the capital moved to Heian. Its halls are a scaled-down recreation of the Chodoin of Heiankyo, and it is known for its garden.
Senbon Torii(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Kyoto City / Blessings: business prosperity
The torii are dedicated by individuals and companies, raised in thanks when a prayer has gone through.
Omokaru-ishi(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Kyoto City / Blessings: good fortune
A stone lantern you lift: if it feels light, your wish is said to be granted.
Kiyomizu no Butai(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships
Kakezukuri, built without nails. It stands 13 metres high, and records show 234 people actually jumped from it in the Edo period.
Otowa no Taki(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: long life, study and exams
The three streams are long life, love and learning. Drinking from all three is held to be greedy.
Jishu Jinja(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships
A shrine of matchmaking inside the grounds of Kiyomizudera. Its two love-divination stones are set ten metres apart.
Nanzenji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
It was placed at the very top of the Zen temple ranks. The aqueduct of the Lake Biwa Canal crosses its grounds.
Tofukuji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Known for the autumn colour seen from the Tsutenkyo bridge. Its Sanmon gate is the oldest surviving Zen gate and a National Treasure.
Daitokuji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: study and exams
Ikkyu Sojun served as abbot here. A centre of Sen no Rikyu and the way of tea.
Myoshinji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
A vast temple with 46 sub-temples. The cloud dragon on the ceiling of the lecture hall is famous.
Nishi Honganji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji school / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
The karamon gate, the study halls and the Hiunkaku are National Treasures, gathering the best of Momoyama culture.
Higashi Honganji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / head temple of the Shinshu Otani school / Kyoto City / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
The Goeido is among the largest wooden buildings in the world. Ropes plaited with human hair were used to haul up its beams.
Toji Gojunoto(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
About 55 metres tall. The highest wooden pagoda in Japan, and the silhouette of Kyoto itself.
Sanjusangendo(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
One thousand and one Thousand-Armed Kannon stand in rows. The 120-metre main hall is a National Treasure too.
Tenryuji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Special Place of Scenic Beauty / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
The Sogenchi garden by Muso Soseki. It was the first place in Japan designated both a Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
Nonomiya Jinja(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships, study and exams
Where the imperial priestess purified herself before setting out for Ise. Its black-bark torii survives.
Kuramadera(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Kyoto City / Blessings: good fortune, mountain worship
Said to be where the young Ushiwakamaru learned swordsmanship from the tengu. Known for its May full moon rite.
Kifune Jinja(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Head shrine of the water deities / Kyoto City / Head shrine of Kifune shrines (about 450 shrines nationwide) / Blessings: love and relationships, good harvests
The head shrine of all Kifune shrines in Japan. Its water fortunes are floated on water for the characters to appear.
Byodoin(Uji)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Yamashiro / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
The design on the ten-yen coin. Together with its reflection in the pond, the whole is built to represent the Pure Land.
Ujigami Jinja(Uji)Shinto shrine / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Yamashiro / Blessings: study and exams
Its main hall is held to be the oldest surviving shrine building, put up in the late Heian period.
Chionji(Miyazu)Buddhist temple / Special Place of Scenic Beauty / Tango / Blessings: study and exams
One of the three great views of Japan, and one of the three great Monju temples, enshrining the Buddha of wisdom.
Nariaiji(Miyazu)Buddhist temple / Saigoku 33-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 28 / Tango / Blessings: good fortune
A temple on the mountain above Amanohashidate. Its name says that wishes are fulfilled.
Matsunoo Taisha(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Important Cultural Property / Kyoto City / Blessings: business prosperity
As a deity of brewing, it draws the faith of sake makers across Japan. Sake casks are stacked in its grounds.
Sanzenin(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
The village of Ohara. Small child Jizo figures sit in a garden of moss.
Jakkoin(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Kyoto City / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
Where Kenreimonin, daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, spent her last years. The final scene of The Tale of the Heike.
Kifune Okumiya(Kyoto)Shinto shrine / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships
Where Izumi Shikibu prayed to win back a love. Also held to be the origin of the midnight cursing rite.
Eikando(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Kyoto City / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
The Mikaeri Amida turns only its head to look back, a rare posture. Famous for autumn colour.
Shorenin(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Historic Site / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
A monzeki temple of the Tendai school. A great camphor spreads its branches before the gate.
Chionin(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / head temple of the Jodo school / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
Its Sanmon is among the largest wooden gates in Japan, and a National Treasure. Seventeen people together strike the new year bell.
Kodaiji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Kyoto City / Blessings: love and relationships
Built by Kita-no-Mandokoro, wife of Hideyoshi. Its mausoleum in maki-e lacquer survives.
Kenninji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: study and exams
The oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. It holds the Wind and Thunder Gods by Tawaraya Sotatsu.
Daigoji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: mountain worship
Its five-storey pagoda is the oldest building in Kyoto. The site of Hideyoshi's famous cherry-blossom party.
Ninnaji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Known for its low-growing Omuro cherries. A monzeki temple whose abbots were of the imperial family.
Kosanji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / Kyoto City / Blessings: study and exams
It holds the Choju Jinbutsu Giga scrolls, and has the oldest tea garden in Japan.
Jingoji(Kyoto)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Kyoto City / Blessings: warding off misfortune
The origin of kawarake-nage, throwing clay discs. Kukai served as its abbot.
Hoshokan(Uji)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Yamashiro / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
The Unchu Kuyo Bosatsu figures can be seen close up here.
Mimurotoji(Uji)Buddhist temple / Saigoku 33-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 10 / Yamashiro / Blessings: love and relationships
A temple of hydrangeas and lotus, standing in the hills of Uji.
Iwashimizu Hachimangu(Yawata)Shinto shrine / One of the Three Great Hachiman Shrines / National Treasure / Yamashiro / Blessings: victory, warding off misfortune
Its halls are National Treasures. The bamboo Edison used for his lamp filament came from here.
Matanozoki(Miyazu)Utaki (Ryukyuan sacred grove) / Special Place of Scenic Beauty / Tango / Blessings: good fortune
Look through your legs and it appears as a bridge across the sky.
Kono Jinja(Miyazu)Shinto shrine / Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Tango Province / National Treasure / Tango / Blessings: good fortune
Held to be the original shrine of Ise Jingu, and called Moto-Ise. Its Amabe genealogy is a National Treasure.
Motoise Naiku(Fukuchiyama)Shinto shrine / Tanba and Chutan / Blessings: good fortune
Said to be where the deity of Ise Jingu was enshrined before settling at its present site.
Nioumon(Ayabe)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Tanba and Chutan / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its shingled Nio gate is the only National Treasure building in northern Kyoto Prefecture.
Sightseeing
Nijo-jo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Breakdown: castle 1, historic townscape 4, nature / scenery 2, industrial heritage 2. 13 places to see in Kyoto.
Gion Matsuri(Kyoto)festival / event / Kyoto City / Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property / UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage / 869
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The townspeople have kept it going for over a thousand years.
Arashiyama(Kyoto)nature / scenery / Kyoto City / Historic Site / Place of Scenic Beauty
The Togetsukyo bridge and the bamboo grove. A villa district of the nobility since the Heian period.
Gion(Kyoto)historic townscape / Kyoto City / Preservation District for Traditional Buildings
Teahouse buildings run the length of the street. It grew up as the gate town of Yasaka Jinja.
Nijo-jo(Kyoto)castle / Kyoto City / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / UNESCO World Heritage / 1603
The Ninomaru palace is a National Treasure. This is where the return of power to the emperor was declared.
Nishiki Market(Kyoto)historic townscape / Kyoto City
The kitchen of Kyoto. More than 130 shops along 400 metres.
Philosopher's Path(Kyoto)historic townscape / Kyoto City
Two kilometres along the Lake Biwa Canal. Nishida Kitaro used to walk it.
Aoi Matsuri(Kyoto)festival / event / Kyoto City
The oldest of the three great festivals of Kyoto. A procession in Heian dress moves from the palace to the shrine.
Jidai Matsuri(Kyoto)festival / event / Kyoto City / 1895
A procession in costume from the Heian period through to Meiji. The festival of Heian Jingu.
Amanohashidate(Miyazu)nature / scenery / Tango / Special Place of Scenic Beauty
One of the three great views of Japan: 8,000 pines on a sandbar 3.6 kilometres long.
Ine no Funaya(Ine)historic townscape / Tango / Preservation District for Traditional Buildings
The ground floor is a boathouse, the upper floor a home. Two hundred and thirty of them ring the bay.
Uji Tea(Uji)industrial heritage / Yamashiro
Gyokuro and matcha are made by shading the plants before harvest. The trade grew up to meet the demand of the tea ceremony.
Kurama Fire Festival(Kyoto)festival / event / Kyoto City
People carrying torches parade through the village. One of the three strange festivals of Kyoto.
Sagano Romantic Train(Kyoto)industrial heritage / Kyoto City / 1991
A disused stretch of the old Sanin main line, turned into a sightseeing railway. It runs through the Hozu gorge.
Traditional Crafts
Seventeen crafts hold national designation, among the highest of any prefecture.
Nishijin weaving, Kyo yuzen, Kyo kanoko shibori, Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu ware, Kyoto lacquerware, Kyoto folding fans, Kyoto flat fans, Kyoto Buddhist altars and fittings, and more.
Set out together, they fall into four groups: things to wear, things to display, things to worship with, and things to receive guests with. The name Nishijin comes from the camp of the western army in the Onin War, to which the weavers returned once the fighting was over.
More: VILLAGE Journal vol.22 — Seventeen crafts, a number apart
More from This Prefecture
See all Kyoto articles ← All 47 prefectures
Sources: Kyoto Prefecture, City of Kyoto, City of Uji, Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Tax Agency, Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries — Value Village editorial team