# 15 classic sights in Kyoto

The places that top the rankings of Kyoto tourism researchers and Japanese travel agencies, from World Heritage temples to Arashiyama and Gion.

- 0 votes · 16 items
- May 22, 2021 · Daiki Abe
- https://even.best/en/l/66/15-classic-sights-in-kyoto

## Top 15

1. **Kiyomizu-dera** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — World Heritage temple said to date from 778, famous for its wooden stage built without nails. <https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/>
2. **Fushimi Inari Taisha** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Head shrine of some 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan, famous for thousands of torii gates up the mountain. <https://inari.jp/>
3. **Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Gold-leaf pavilion built by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, reflected in the Kyōko-chi pond. <https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/kinkakuji/>
4. **Arashiyama and Togetsukyō Bridge** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Scenic area centred on the Togetsukyō Bridge over the Katsura River, famed for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
5. **Sagano Bamboo Grove** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Bamboo-lined path running from Nonomiya Shrine to Ōkōchi Sansō villa.
6. **Nijō Castle** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — World Heritage castle built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, known for the 'nightingale floors' of Ninomaru Palace. <https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/>
7. **Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Temple born from Ashikaga Yoshimasa's villa, with its raked-sand garden and sand cone. <https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/ginkakuji/>
8. **Gion and Hanamikōji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Cobbled geisha district lined with teahouses, where you may spot maiko.
9. **Yasaka Shrine** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Shrine of the Gion Matsuri festival, with its vermilion west gate at the end of Shijō-dōri. <https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/>
10. **Nanzen-ji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Head temple of a Rinzai Zen school, popular for its Sanmon gate and Meiji-era brick aqueduct.
11. **Philosopher's Path** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — About 1.5 km canal-side walk from Ginkaku-ji towards Nanzen-ji.
12. **Nishiki Market** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Known as 'Kyoto's kitchen', a 390 m covered shopping street of food stalls. <https://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/>
13. **Ryōan-ji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — World Heritage temple famous for its dry rock garden of 15 stones on white gravel. <https://www.ryoanji.jp/>
14. **Heian Shrine** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Built in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of the capital's founding, with a giant torii and gardens. <https://www.heianjingu.or.jp/>
15. **Sanjūsangen-dō** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Its 120 m-long hall holds 1,001 statues of the thousand-armed Kannon. <https://www.sanjusangendo.jp/>
16. **Kōdai-ji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Temple founded by Nene, wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; popular spring and autumn illuminations. <https://www.kodaiji.com/>

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.