9 Unique Temples and Shrines to Discover in Kyoto
- Published on : 02/06/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Miyake Hachimangu (Kyoto)
@Patrick Vierthaler sur Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Forget Fushimi Inari! While Kyoto is home to more than 2,000 temples and shrines, Japan’s former imperial capital also boasts a number of unusual and lesser-known sacred sites. Discover 9 surprising shrines with Japan Experience.
1. Kuginuki Jizo, the Shrine for Children's Protection
Located near the Golden Pavilion, this shrine is dedicated to Jizō, the small stone statues often dressed with bibs or knitted hats, believed to be the guardian spirits of children and travelers. What makes this shrine unique? Visitors hammer nails into symbolic structures as part of a ritual representing the purification and removal of misfortune. It offers an original glimpse into a distinctly local aspect of Japanese spirituality.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 728-1 Kushige-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8307, Japan
Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Kuginuki Jizo
@Japan Experience
2. Saihoji (Kokedera), the Moss Temple
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saihoji, better known as Kokedera (“the Moss Temple”), is renowned for its stunning garden carpeted with more than a hundred varieties of moss. Although visits are restricted and require advance reservations, the experience is well worth the effort. Its serene, poetic atmosphere offers a perfect retreat for those seeking peace and contemplation away from Kyoto’s busiest tourist spots.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 56 Jingatani-cho, Matsuo, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8286, Japan
Opening Hours: Visits are by advance reservation only. Please check the official website for the latest information.
Saihoji (Kyoto)
@Patrick Vierthaler on Flickr,CC BY-NC 2.0
3. Go’o Shrine, the Spiritual Haven for Animals
This unique shrine is dedicated to the spirit of animals. It is famous for its numerous animal statues—over 100 wild boars alone!—and protective rituals. A touching and unusual stop for animal lovers, it offers insight into the important role fauna plays in local spirituality.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 385 Gokomachi, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8011, Japan
Opening Hours: 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Amulet office: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Sanctuaire Go'o
@Japan Experience
4. Kyoto’s Blood Temples
For dark tourism enthusiasts, Kyoto is full of sites with a turbulent past. Among them, some temples are famous for having been the scene of historical wars or assassinations. One of these is Enkōji.
Enkōji
Although Enkōji is best known for its Zen garden, appearances can be deceiving: the temple witnessed clashes during Japan’s civil wars. Some areas of the temple preserve relics and artifacts associated with these conflicts, including graves and memorial monuments. The contrast between the garden’s beauty and these traces of violence makes it a fascinating site for those interested in Japan’s dramatic history.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 74 Enkoji Shimonokicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8146, Japan
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Enkoji (Kyoto)
@Norio Nakayama sur Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
5. Shiramine, the Shrine of Ball Sports!
This small shrine is dedicated to ball sports! Home to the spirit of Seidai Myojin, a deity associated with athletic pursuits, the shrine hosts a kemari demonstration every April. Kemari, an ancient precursor to football played at the imperial court, involves Shinto priests passing a ball to one another without letting it touch the ground. This tradition explains why the shrine is now considered a favorite destination for athletes, with sportspeople and students alike coming to pray for victory in competitions such as football, baseball, and rugby.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 261 Asukai-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0054, Japan
Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sanctuaire Shiramine (Kyoto)
@Japan experience
Sanctuaire Shiramine (Kyoto)
@Japan Experience
Want to learn more about Japan’s work of remembrance? Join our peace dialogues in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with local residents!
6. Miyake Hachimangu, the Shrine of the Pigeon Protecting Against Fires
This shrine is famous for its rituals related to protection from fires and natural disasters. Its pigeon-shaped decorations—the messenger of the gods—and protective charms make it an unusual and photogenic site, perfect for gaining insight into the diversity of local beliefs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 22 Kamitakano Miyake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0035, Japan
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Miyake Hachimangu (Kyoto)
@Goat Tree Design sur Flickr, CC BY 2.0
7. Matsuo Taisha, the Shrine of Sake
This is the oldest shrine dedicated to wine and sake in Kyoto! Local breweries come here to pray for good harvests and successful production. Between its ancient architecture and traditions linked to Japan’s national drink, it offers an unusual and culturally rich visit—especially interesting for those curious about sake culture.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 3 Matsuo Yamada-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8296, Japan
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (the outer grounds are accessible earlier)
Matsuo-Taisha (Kyoto)
@Wikimedia
Matsuo-Taisha (Kyoto)
@Japan Experience
8. Tanukidani Fudoin, the Temple of the Tanuki
This temple is famous for its tanuki statues - the legendary Japanese raccoon dogs known for their mischievous nature and shape-shifting abilities. Visitors can admire the statues and soak in a whimsical atmosphere, a rare experience in Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 2 Ichijoji Matsuwaracho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8156, Japan
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tanukidani Fudoin (Kyoto)
@Patrick Vierthaler sur Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
9. Hiko Shrine, the Aviation Shrine
Hiko Shrine was founded in 1915 by Japanese aviation pioneer Chuhachi Ninomiya. Years before the Wright brothers’ historic flight at Kitty Hawk, Chuhachi had designed an aircraft that, in many respects, surpassed theirs. However, due to a lack of funding and support, his project was never realized. After the Wright brothers’ first successful flight, Chuhachi abandoned his plans. Later, at the age of 19 and concerned about the increasing number of aviation-related deaths, he established the shrine to pray for those who had lost their lives in the air. Today, the shrine is decorated with ema (wooden wish plaques) featuring aviation motifs, and visitors come here to pray for safe and peaceful flights.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 44-1 Nishikujo Karahashi-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8453, Japan
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sanctuaire Hiko (Kyoto)
@Japan Experience
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