UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan
Japan has 27 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Most are not one place but several: Ancient Kyoto alone is 17 temples, shrines and a castle across three cities. Here every place we cover is listed under the inscription it belongs to.
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
Cultural site, inscribed 1994 · 17 places · UNESCO listing
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Ginkaku-ji
Silver Pavilion
A Zen temple famed for its elegant Silver Pavilion and meticulously raked sand garden reflecting ...
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Ryoan-ji
Ryoan-ji Temple
UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple with the famous rock garden of 15 stones on white gravel. From a...
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Kamigamo Shrine
Kyoto's Oldest Shrine with Sacred Sand Cone Mounds
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kyoto's oldest Shinto shrines, founded in 678 AD, known f...
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To-ji
Japan's Tallest Wooden Pagoda and Ancient Capital Landmark
A World Heritage Site founded in 796, home to Japan's tallest wooden pagoda at 55 meters and a be...
Kiyomizu-dera
Pure Water Temple
A hillside temple where a vast wooden stage, supported by 139 pillars without a single nail, offe...
Byodo-in
Byodo-in Temple
A UNESCO World Heritage temple famous for its Phoenix Hall, depicted on the Japanese 10-yen coin.
Tenryu-ji
Arashiyama's World Heritage Zen Masterpiece
World Heritage Site, head temple of the Tenryu branch of Rinzai Zen. The Sogenchi garden uses the...
Enryakuji Temple
Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei (Hieizan)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and headquarters of Tendai Buddhism, Enryakuji Temple sprawls across...
Saihoji (Kokedera)
The Moss Temple Requiring Advance Reservation
A World Heritage Zen temple blanketed in over 120 varieties of moss, creating an ethereal green l...
Ninna-ji
Imperial Palace Temple with Late-Blooming Cherry Blossoms
A World Heritage Site and former imperial palace temple, famed for its late-blooming Omuro cherry...
Nijo Castle
UNESCO World Heritage flatland castle. The floors squeak when you walk, designed as a security al...
Kinkaku-ji
Golden Pavilion Temple
Kyoto's golden icon, where a pavilion sheathed in real gold leaf floats above its mirror-still po...
Shimogamo Shrine
Ancient World Heritage Shrine in a Primeval Forest
One of Kyoto's oldest shrines (UNESCO World Heritage), located within the Tadasu no Mori primeval...
Daigo-ji
Hideyoshi's Cherry Blossom Temple on the Mountainside
A sprawling World Heritage Site famous for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's legendary 1598 cherry blossom vie...
Kozan-ji
A World Heritage Temple in a Cedar Forest, Home of the Frolicking Animals
A UNESCO World Heritage temple in the cedars at Toganoo, revived by the monk Myoe in 1206, known ...
Nishi Hongan-ji
A Free Head Temple 15 Minutes from Kyoto Station, Open from 5:30
Head temple of the Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, on this site since 1591. Entry is f...
Ujigami Shrine
Japan's Oldest Shrine Building, in Kyoto Prefecture's Words, Across the River from Byodo-in
A small, free shrine on the east bank of the Uji River whose main hall Kyoto Prefecture lists as ...