7 Hidden Gems to Avoid the Crowds

This article was published in “Kansai Weekend 2024”.
To read the entire issue, click here.

Kyoto’s image as a tourist-heavy city often stems from a concentrated focus on a handful of Instagram-worthy spots. Photogenic spots like Fushimi Inari, Ninnezaka and Kinkakuji Temple are undoubtedly beautiful, but they have become almost synonymous with crowds and congestion.

However, off the beaten path, there are hundreds of temples and shrines, each with its own rich culture and stories, but often overlooked and waiting to be discovered. Here are some of the lesser-known temples and shrines in Kyoto that we think are worth a visit the next time you’re in town.

Falin Temple

Located in a quiet neighborhood near Maramachi Station, Horunji Temple is famous for its collection of more than 8,000 roly-poly dolls from across Japan. Bodhidharma is a mascot that represents perseverance and good luck, and the main hall is filled with paintings, sculptures and carvings of auspicious figures.

The Daruma Hall is located in the outdoor hall of the temple and contains Bodhidharma figures of all shapes and sizes, as well as an impressive painting of Bodhidharma, the first ancestor of Zen Buddhism, by the prolific Japanese artist Higuchi Fumimasa, also on the ceiling. The source of inspiration for Mo dolls. You can enter the temple grounds and Bodhidharma Hall for free, but if you want to explore the Zen gardens and the extensive collection of tumblers inside the larger building, Shusei-do, you’ll need to pay 300 yen.

After exploring the temple, be sure to stop by the Marusan Cafe and Gallery, which is a short walk down the road. The cafe’s owner, Yoko-san, is a friendly Kyoto native who loves sharing the city’s unique culture with international visitors (and makes incredible egg sandwiches).

Jiouji Temple

Tucked away in the streets of Arashiyama, Gioji is a peaceful temple where verdant moss gardens, simple thatched houses, and small bamboo groves create an ethereal and mysterious atmosphere. This temple is famous for its association with the tragic stories that emerged. The Tale of the Heike. The story follows a dancer named Gio who falls in love with the powerful warlord Taira Kiyomori, but their relationship ends in heartbreak. She became a nun and entered the temple with her mother and sister.

The temple is worth visiting any time of year, but especially in the fall when the red maple leaves contrast with the mossy carpet below.

Bamboo forest at Ashino-Nenbutsuji Temple

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is often considered a must-visit spot in Kyoto, but since it has become a viral photography spot, it is rarely visited without crowds. A 20-minute walk along the scenic Saga Torii Honshu Street leads to a historically significant temple and an (arguably) even more beautiful bamboo grove.

Ashino-Nenbutsuji Temple was founded around the 8th century by the famous Buddhist monk Kukai (posthumously known as Kobo Daishi). There are more than 8,000 statuettes inside the temple, representing the souls of those who died without their families.

The bamboo forest behind the temple is quiet and picturesque, and you can take pictures; however, out of respect for the deceased, photography is not allowed in some places, so please pay attention to the signs.

Ota Nenbutsuji Temple

About a 10-minute walk from Ashino-Nenbutsuji Temple, you’ll find Otagi Nenbutsuji, famous for its unique collection of 1,200 pieces friends (Buddha disciple) Buddha statue. The statues were individually carved by devotees and artists as part of a temple restoration project in the 1980s, and each statue is unique in its pose and expression.

Since it’s just a short walk from downtown Arashiyama, you’re guaranteed to have fewer crowds, making it perfect for a peaceful and meditative experience in Kyoto.

Myoshinji Taizoin Temple

Miaoshinji Taizoin is one of about 50 branch temples in the Miaoshinji temple complex, and is also one of the most popular temples. The temple has two gardens: a dry landscape garden created by Kano Motonobu in the 16th century, and Yoko-en, a large garden with lush seasonal plants and a pond.

However, the most striking feature of this temple is an important piece of art called “Hyonenzu” (“Catching Catfish with a Gourd”), which is designated a Japanese National Treasure. Artist José is considered the founder of Japanese ink painting, and this work is said to be his greatest masterpiece.

The temple offers tours and programs in English, such as temple tours, meditation experiences, tea experiences, and vegetarian lunches, which can be booked through the official website. Still, it’s relatively uncrowded and a real hidden gem.

Ginkakuji Temple

While people usually head to Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion), the very photogenic, glittering Golden Pavilion, Kyoto also has a Silver Pavilion: the Ginkaku-ji Temple. However, it is known that this temple is not made of silver. It was originally built in the 15th century for a shogun who intended to cover it with silver foil, although this never happened. Despite its lack of luster, the temple exudes a dignified, ancient elegance and embodies the principles of wabi-sabi.

Of all the temples I’ve visited in Kyoto, Ginkaku-ji has some of the most beautiful gardens: there’s a large dry stone garden, lush moss, surrounded by seasonal plants, small waterfalls, and stone bridges. You also can’t miss Kogetsudai, a mysterious mountain-shaped sand structure known as the Moon Viewing Platform, although its actual purpose is a bit unclear.

Ginkakuji is located at the beginning of the Philosopher’s Trail, a peaceful trail that connects Ginkakuji and Nanzenji through dozens of small temples and shrines on Higashiyama Mountain. It is recommended to stop by Honen-in Temple, Anrakuji Temple, and Taito Shrine on the way.

Ryuganji Temple

A temple not far from Kyoto Station is using modern technology to reinvent Buddhist worship. One of their most notable projects, first launched in November 2018, is the use of drones during worship services.

Ryuho Ikeguchi, the abbot of Ryuganji Temple, collaborated with Buddhist sculptor Miura Yozan to create the Drone Buddha, a 3D sculpture of the Buddha placed on a small flying drone that expresses the Buddhist desire to travel to heaven.

The temple leans toward contemporary culture and innovation, as they also offer a philosophical maid cafe experience and Buddhist altar items that can be purchased through gashapon (capsule toy machines). While some of these events only happen a few times a year, we recommend you visit this temple and support Ikeguchi Ryupo and his innovative efforts.

Related posts