Location: Southern Kyoto
Top Things to do in Southern Kyoto
10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Southern Kyoto That You Shouldn't Miss
The shrines and temples of Kyoto offer a rare link between modern life in the city and its very ancient past. The Shimogamo Shrine dates to the 6th century and seems suspended in time, its serenity and spiritual power still palpable. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, then see the life-sized Thousand Armed Kannon statues of Sanjūsangen-dō. Enjoy traditional geisha performances, then savor a tranquil meal at a restaurant overlooking the Kamo River.
Restaurants in Kyoto
1. Daigo-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 644 reviews
This temple complex includes several buildings and an expansive Japanese garden. One of the oldest structures in Kyoto is a five-story pagoda that can be found on the temple grounds.
Reviewed By Greengrove - Tokyo, Japan
Here is a large temple of Shingon sect with superb gardens and architecture. The interior of the Sambo-in has fantastic painted screens and a wonderful garden. There were few visitors on the Friday afternoon I was there, and nothing like the crowds of the city centre sites. You can feel nature and spirit. There is a beautiful lake surrounded with maples and cherry blossoms which contains the Benten-do. Unfortunately, many trees in the forest area had to be cleared after a 2018 typhoon, and the mountain path and upper temple is presently closed. The old Garan walls with the red pines lining the road is very atmospheric. The huge gilded gate has a stone post in front of it on the path that says "Get off your horse"! There are many interesting sights in the vicinity, and I would have liked to have had more time there.
2. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,494 reviews
This shrine is one of many located throughout Japan that was built to honor Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Reviewed By Cholo_Juan - Nathalia, Australia
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is a must do for visitors to Kyoto to walk upward ever upward via the winding path through hundreds of Tori gates is an amazing experience, stopping along the way to take in the prayer stations some with dozens if not hundreds of small tori placed as votive offerings. We arrived late in the afternoon and had to almost sprint up the hill as the evening darkness closed in on us, but then the lights come on giving the pathway a surreal air as the light casts its shadows through the Tori Gates. It is an arduous walk so make sure you are fit and have good walking shoes but well worth the effort
3. Tofuku-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,807 reviews
Reviewed By YTCHENG - Hong Kong, China
Tofuku-ji Temple was particularly famous for its autumn fall colors. There were many tourists, local or overseas, rushed to the temple to share the joy around. The first main photo-stop should be the Tsutenkyo Bridge while the Hojo gardens with the sea of raked sands and rocks arranged to represent sacred mountains were also crowded with visitors. Highly recommended during peak period by late November each year.
4. Toji
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,620 reviews
Reviewed By chienwinston - Taipei, Taiwan
Entrance fee : all included is 800 yen. Location: 10-15 minutes by foot from Kyoto Station. Recommendation is indeed because there reserve several national treasures in display. The temples are ancient. I have been Kyoto fourth times, but I discovered it in this year. It isn’t advertised often in my local tours or blogs. It definitely deserves your visiting no matter which season is.
5. Jonangu Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By Selsy
I went to see the Kyo-kusui no Utage held on National Culture Day in November. Although I arrived 40 minutes before the start, I got one of the last available seats. The event is a poetry competition where poets dress in traditional costume and compose poetry in the shrine's beautiful garden. It was very interesting to watch - the costumes were beautiful, and there was traditional music and dance as well. Apart from the performance itself, the gardens are beautiful to wander around. The shrine is an easy 10 minute walk from Takeda station, the last stop on the Karasuma subway line.
6. Unryuin
7. Komyoin
8. To-ji Temple Bishamondo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By udaykumarh2015 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
To-Ji Temple Kyoto and Temple Minami-Ku KYOTO To-Ji is a Buddhist Temple very near to Kyoto Station. We stayed in Hotel Keihan. The front desk personnel of the hotel told that the famous temple is at walking distance. But as I walk with ‘Walking Stick’, my daughter Sonali hired a Taxi to reach the temple. On interrogation we came to know that the To-Ji Temple is more than 1000 years old. In the then time, the temple was one of two that were built to protect the city from negative spiritual energies. Toji means, ‘East Temple’ because it was built on the east side of the main city entrance. Toji Temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of enormous historical significance. The temple is famous for its five story pagoda, Toji’s wonder is its inspiring buildings and beautiful Buddhist statue. While in Kyoto, To-Ji Temple is ‘must see’ temple. The Five-Storey Pagoda charmed us. As we visited, in day time the photo on the Pagoda is not coloured. We all took many photos including the Pagoda. From To-Ji we went to Temple Minami-Ku KYOTO Temple Minami-Ku KYOTO My wife, daughter and I visited Minami-Ku Temple on 4th October 2018. We all got charmed visiting the temple. We spent about two hours in the holy place. Fortunately we got a English knowing person. We came to know that Minami Ward of Kyoto has played an important role. The ward is on one side of the city which is not bounded by mountain. The area is the gateway to Kyoto. Minami ward is predominately a working class area. Number of large factories and industrial complexes are in this ward. We were keen to know when this splendid Minami-Ku Temple was constructed. Nut, we did not get the answer. We went on our own arrangement. Language was a great problem. However, I am sharing the photos whatever w\I have.,
