From the view of Kyoto’s foreign visitors, ranking of temples and shrines.

Red Leaves
京都ベストスポット

Now, here is the list of the most favorite temples and shrines in Kyoto. They are listed in the popular worldwide travel guidebook《Lonely Planet Kyoto》after selections of foreign visitors. Let us see the information and the results of“Red Maple Leaves” in Kyoto.

NO17: Saihoji Temple

NO17: Saihoji TempleIt is also well-known as“Moss Temple”. Around the pond there are full of green mosses. The green moss accompany with the red and orange autumn leaves. It is so soft and harmony.
Open hours: 10:00am ( July to September), 1:00pm (October to June)Fee: 3000 Yen per person

Address:

6 Matsuojingatanicho Nishikyo-ku

  • Get off at Kokedera Temple, Suzumushidera Temple bus stop, walk for 3 mins
  • No car park
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NO16: Fushimi-inari Taisha shrine

NO16: Fushimi-inari Taisha shrineIt is famous for its Senbon Torii. It is the NO.1 tourist spot for foreign visitors in Kyoto. Although it is not popular for the red leaves, we can still enjoy the autumn leaves near the Yashima Pond.
Opening hours: 24 hoursFee: Free

Address:

68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku

  • Get off at Inari station by Keihan line, walk for 5mins
  • Get off at Fushimi-inari Taisha shrine by City bus, walk for 7 mins
  • 市バス稲荷大社前バス停下車、徒歩7分
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NO15: Honen Temple

NO15: Honen TempleNearby the Tetsu gaku no michi (Path of Philosophy), there is a traditional door made by thatch grasses. Besides, the white sand altar made by white sands in courtyard is also well-known. Visitors can enjoy the red maple leaves at the door gate or around the white sand altar.
Opening hours: 6:00am to 4:00pmFee: Free

Address:

30 Shishigatani Goshonodancho, Sakyo-ku

  • Get off at Minamita machi bus stop by City bus, walk for 5 mins
  • Get off at Jodoji Temple bus stop by City bus, walk for 10 mins

Red maple leaves period: Mid to Late November

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NO14: A red leaves viewspot affected by Katsura rikyu style: Manshu-in Temple

曼殊院の紅葉Click here for more information about Manshu-in Temple[hr][/hr]

NO13: Jisho-Ji Temple

Located the most north side of Tetsu gaku no michi (Path of Philosophy), it is the countryseat of Ashikaga Yoshimasa (8th shogun of Muromachi shogunate) hosted by monk Muso Soseki. Here is not the best location to admire the red leaves, but visitors can still overlook the red leaves view of mountain Daimonji.
Opening hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm ( 1st March to 30th November), 9:00am to 4:30pm (1st December to Late February)Fee: 500 Yen for High school, 300 Yen for Secondary and Primary school

Transportation:

Get off at Jisho-Ji Road bus stop by City bus, walk for 10 mins

  • Get off at Jisho-Ji Temple bus stop by City bus, walk for 5 mins
  • Car park for 40 cars (with 2 hours)

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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NO12: Rokuonji Temple

NO12: Rokuonji TempleIt is built by Muso Soseki in the countryseat of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It is famous because of a novel wrote by Mishima Yukio, taking Rokuonji Temple as the background. People can take photos of the reflection of the temple together with the red maple leaves at the Kyoko-chi Pond.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pmFee: 400 Yen for high school, 300 Yen for secondary and primary school

Address:

1 Kinkakujicho Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi

  • Get off at Rokuonji Temple bus stop by City bus, walk for 3mins
  • Get off at Rokuonji Temple bus stop by City bus, walk for 1 min
  • With Car park

Red maple leaves period: Late November to Early December

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NO11: Kurama-Dera Temple

Kurama-Dera TempleKurama-Dera Temple is the place that Minamoto no Yoshitsune stayed for deep thought. It was built at the middle part of the tall mountain. If you have time and enough strength, suggest watching the red leaves at Kifune Jinja Shrine by hiking. Or you can take the Eizan Railway to here. Enjoy the marvelous view surrounded by red leaves between Ichihara and Ninose station.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:30 pmFee: 300 Yen ( Free under secondary school)

Address:

1074 Kuramahonmachi Sakyo-ku

  • Get off at Kurama station by Eizan Railway, walk from Niomoncho to main hall for 30 mins
  • Get off at Kurama bus stop by Kyoto bus, walk walk from Niomoncho to main hall for 30 mins
  • Cable car from Niomoncho to Tahoto Pagoda( 200 Yen for adults , 100 Yen for primary school)

Red maple leaves period:Mid to Late November

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NO10 Heian Jingu Shrine

NO10 Heian Jingu ShrineKyoto was the capital from the first emperor Emperor Kanmu to the last emperor Emperor Komei. It witnesses the change of epochs. Heian Jingu Shrine was built in the Meiji period. Those Shrine Gardens are taken care by Ueji Ogawa Jihei VII. Though here is not the most well known viewpoint of red leaves, but it still a good place for this activity.
Opening hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm (1st November to Late February)Fee: Shrine Gardens : 600 Yen for adults, 300 Yen for below adults

Address:

97 Okazaki Nishitennocho Sakyo-ku

  • Get off at Higashiyama station by Subway Tozai line, walk for 10mins
  • Get off at Jingu Marutamachi Station or Sanjo Station by Keihan Railway, walk for 15mins
  • Get off at Heian Jingu Shrine bus stop by City bus, walk for 5 mins
  • Get off at Miyakomesse bus stop by City bus, walk for 5 mins
  • Get off at Okazaki Koen-guchi bus stop by City bus, walk for 5 mins

Red leaves period: Mid November

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NO9: Ryoan-ji Temple

NO9: Ryoan-ji TempleOther than these red maple leaves that can be seen at the wall of the internal garden, visitors can also enjoy the 400 maple trees at the Kyoyo Pond and the pilgrimage’s path.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm1st March- 30th November: 8:00am to 5:00pm, 1st December to Late February: 8:30am to 4:30pmFee: 500 Yen for high school, 300 Yen for Secondary and Primary school

Address: 1

13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho Ukyo-ku

  • Get off at Ryoan-ji Temple station by Keifuku Railway, walk for 7 mins
  • Get off at Ritsumeikan University by City bus, walk for 7mins
  • Get off at Ryoan-ji Temple station by City bus
  • Free car park for 1st hour

Red maple leaves period: Late November to Early December

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No8: Daitoku-ji Temple

No8: Daitoku-ji TempleThe 24 Tatchu sub-temples are the main viewpoints of Daitoku-ji Temple, although some of them are not open for public. The Obai-in Temple and Kotoin Temple are the well-known spots to enjoy the red leaves. The garden of Obai-in Temple is built by”Tea Saint”Sen no Rikyu. However, it is a pity that Kotoin Temple will not be open to public until 31st March 2019.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:00pmObai-in Temple: Special Autumn opening: 6th October- 10th December (scheduled) 10:00am to 4:00pmFee Obai-in Temple: 600 Yen for adults, 400 Yen for high school, 300 Yen for primary school, free below Primary school

Address

Obai-in Temple: 83-1 Murasakino DaitokujichoKita-ku

  • Get off at Daitoku-ji Temple by City bus, walk for 5mins
  • Car park 50 cars
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NO7 Shoren-In Monzeki Temple, fantastic blue colour lighten-up event

青蓮院門跡の紅葉Click here for more information about Shoren-In Monzeki[hr][/hr]

NO6 Nanzen-ji Temple

NO6 Nanzen-ji TempleThe Japanese outlaw hero Ishikawa Goemon in ‎Sengoku period cried out “Perfect View!” when he came to the San-mon Gate of Nanzen-ji Temple. Besides overlooking at Kyoto at San-mon Gate, people can also appreciate the red leaves in the hall. The Tatchu sub-temple Tenjuan Temple and Nanzenin Garden will be open to public. In autumn, Tenjuan Temple will hold a special lighten up event.
Opening hours: 8:40am to 4:30pm (1st December to 28th February), 8:40am to 5:00pm (1st March to 30th November) (Last entrance 20mins before closure)FeeHojo Garden: 500 Yen for adults, 400 Yen for high school, 300 Yen for Secondary and Primary schoolSan-mon Gate: 500 Yen for adults, 400 Yen for high school, 300 Yen Secondary and Primary schoolNanzenin Garden: 300 Yen for adults, 250 Yen for high school, 150 Yen Secondary and Primary schoolTenjuan Temple: 500 Yen, Lighten-up event : 600 Yen

Address:

Nanzenji Fukuchicho Sakyo Ward

  • Get off at Keage station by Subway Tozai Line, walk for 10mins
  • Get off at Okazaki Higashitennocho or Nanzenji Eikandodo Bus Stop by City bus,
  • walk for 10 mins

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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NO5: Chion-in Temple

The Honzan of Pure Land Buddhism is famous for the“7 wonders of Chion-in Temple”. But due to the maintenance, the Mieido and some of the“wonders”will not be see. There are some night lighten-up event for red leaves in Yuzen-en Garden and other places. Visitors can also discover some beautiful leaves along the staircases to Seishido hall.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm (Last entrance at 4:00pm)Yuzen-en Garden: 9:00am to 4:30pm, Hojo Garden: 9:00am to 3:50pm(Combined tickets available until 3:20pm)Fee: FreeYuzen-en Garden: 300 Yen for High school, 150 Yen for Secondary and Primary Hojo garden: 400 Yen for High school, 200 Yen for Secondary and PrimaryCombined ticket: 500 Yen for high school, 250 Yen for Secondary and PrimaryLighten-up event: 800 Yen for high school, 400 Yen for Secondary and Primary

Address:

400 Rinkacho Higashiyama-ku

  • Get off at Gion Shijo Station by Keihan Railway, walk for 14 mins
  • Get off at Kawaramachi station by Hankyu Railway, walk for 15mins
  • Get off at Higashiyama station by Subway Tozai line, walk for 8 mins
  • Get off at Chion-in Temple bus stop by City bus, walk for 5 mins
  • Car park located near the south side of the new entrance. Suggest arriving by public transport.

Red maple leaves period:Mid November to Early December

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NO4: Shimogamo Shrine , famous for the Tadasu No Mori forest

下鴨神社鳥居ともみじの紅葉Click here for more information about Shimogamo Shrine[hr][/hr]

NO3: Tenryu-Ji Temple, well-known for the Sogenchi Garden

Click here for more information about Tenryu-Ji Temple[hr][/hr]

NO2: Famous and crowded Kiyomizu-dera Temple, enjoy the night lighten-up event

NO2: Famous and crowded Kiyomizu-dera Temple, enjoy the night lighten-up eventClick here for more information about Kiyomizu-dera Temple[hr][/hr]

NO1: Tofuku-ji Temple, popular for the Tsuten Bridge

NO1: Tofuku-ji Temple, popular for the Tsuten BridgeClick here for more information about Tofuku-ji Temple

EpilogueWe have recommended many famous temples and shrines such as the magnificent view of Honen Temple and Manshu-in Temple, while the Obai-in Temple is regarded as the NO1 garden in Kyoto. When you visit Kyoto next time, you can refer to this list and travel to different places for the red leaves.