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26
30 min
Myōshin-ji Temple
妙心寺
Myoshin-ji is a major Zen Buddhist temple complex in western Kyoto. It serves as the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
Country guide
Theme: History, Up to 1 hour in Japan — page 2
Around three quarters of Japan is mountain and forest, which pushes almost everyone onto the eastern coastal plains and makes the country far narrower in practi...
Photograph · Midori · CC BY 3.0
47,395
Places
3Cities
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Around three quarters of Japan is mountain and forest, which pushes almost everyone onto the eastern coastal plains and makes the country far narrower in practice than 377,975 km2 suggests. Forty-seven prefectures, eight traditional regions and more than 14,000 smaller islands, and yet a first visit usually runs along a single rail corridor with Tokyo at one end and Kyoto and Osaka at the other. Tokyo is the capital and largest city of a country of almost 123 million people. Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south are different climates rather than day trips, and both need their own week.
Checked 2026-08-25
Cities
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
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Tokyo
Photograph · Morio · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tokyo 22,518 places -
Kyoto
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kyoto 13,290 places -
Osaka
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Osaka 11,587 places
Practical information
- Language spoken
- Japanese
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +81
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 110 police · 119 fire and ambulance
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type A · 100 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Safe from the mains
- JNTO states that tap water is safe to drink
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
72 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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27 30 minRokuharamitsu-ji Temple
六波羅蜜寺
Rokuharamitsu-ji is a historic Shingon Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. Its identity is rooted in religious practice and the long history of this eastern part of the city, where temples and traditional neighbourhoods stand close together.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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28 45 minShugaku-in Imperial Villa
修学院離宮
Shugakuin Imperial Villa is an imperial property in northeastern Kyoto, Japan. It was established in the seventeenth century as a retreat for retired emperors. The site comprises multiple garden areas set against the foothills of Mount Hiei.
- High
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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29 30 minHirano Shrine
平野神社
Hirano Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan. It holds historical significance as an ancient religious site with traditional architectural elements characteristic of Japanese shrine design.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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30 30 minMatsunoo Taisha
松尾大社
Matsunoo Taisha is an ancient Shinto shrine in western Kyoto, near the Arashiyama area. Its origins predate the establishment of Heian-kyo, and its history is closely connected with the Hata clan, an important force in the early development of Kyoto.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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31 30 minShōren-in Temple
青蓮院
Shoren-in is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district and belongs to the Tendai sect.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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32 30 minOtagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
愛宕念仏寺
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the Arashiyama district of western Kyoto. The temple sits in the foothills of Mount Ogura and is known for its collection of rakan statues, the disciples of Buddha.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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33 30 minSennyū-ji Temple
泉涌寺
Sennyu-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s eastern Higashiyama area, known for its long connection with the imperial household.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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34 30 minManshu-in Temple
曼殊院
Manshu-in is a Tendai Buddhist sub-temple in northeastern Kyoto, valued for its quiet setting, traditional architecture, and dry landscape garden.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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35 30 minMibu-dera
壬生寺
Mibu-dera is a Buddhist temple in central Kyoto and the headquarters of the Yōgyō school, a branch of the Risshū tradition.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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36 30 minHie Shrine
日枝神社
Hie Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Nagatacho district of central Tokyo, near the National Diet Building.
- High
- Place of worship
- Tokyo
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37 30 minKōryū-ji Temple
広隆寺
Koryu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward and a fitting stop for travellers interested in the city’s long religious and artistic tradition.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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38 30 minŌsaka Tenmangū
大阪天満宮
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Osaka, Japan. It ranks among the city's principal historic shrines and serves as the focus of the Tenjin Matsuri, one of Japan's major summer festivals.
- High
- Place of worship
- Osaka
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39 45 minNinenzaka
二年坂
Ninenzaka is a historic stone-paved street in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, close to Kiyomizu-dera. The lane is one of the clearest places in Kyoto to experience a preserved traditional streetscape while still seeing an active commercial neighbourhood.
- High
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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40 30 minSanzen-in Temple
三千院
Sanzen-in is a Tendai Buddhist temple located in Ohara, a rural district northeast of central Kyoto. It serves as the head temple of the Tendai sect's monzeki tradition, where imperial family members historically served as abbots.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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41 30 minShisen-dō Temple
詩仙堂丈山寺
Shisen-do is a Soto Zen temple in Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward, founded during the Edo period and shaped by the sensibilities of its scholar-founder.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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42 45 minTempōzan Giant Ferris Wheel
天保山大観覧車
Tempozan Ferris Wheel is a panoramic observation wheel situated in Osaka's bay area, within the Tempozan Harbor Village district.
- High
- Historic monument
- Osaka
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43 30 minChishaku-in Temple
智積院
Chishaku-in is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist Chizan sect. The temple occupies a significant position within Japanese religious architecture and cultural heritage.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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44 30 minKurama-dera Temple
鞍馬寺
Kurama-dera is a Buddhist temple located in the mountains north of Kyoto city proper. It sits on Mount Kurama at a significant elevation above the surrounding valley.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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45 30 minJōjakkō-ji Temple
常寂光寺
Jojakko-ji is a Buddhist temple on the wooded slopes of Arashiyama in western Kyoto. Its buildings and paths follow the hillside, creating a visit that combines religious architecture, forest scenery and elevated views.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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46 30 minYōgen-in Temple
養源院
Yogen-in is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. The temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and is associated with the larger Daitoku-ji temple complex in the northern part of the city.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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47 30 minRokkaku-dō Temple
頂法寺
Rokkakudo, formally Chohoji, is a Buddhist temple in central Kyoto near the Karasuma and Sanjo streets. Its common name refers to the hexagonal form associated with the main hall: rokkaku means six angles.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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48 30 minEnkō-ji Temple
円光寺
Enko-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. The temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and holds historical significance in the city's religious landscape.
- High
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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49 30 minNamba-yasaka Shrine
難波八坂神社
Namba Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Namba district of Osaka, Japan. It is notable for its distinctive lion-head stage, which serves as the shrine's most recognizable feature.
- High
- Place of worship
- Osaka
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50 30 minAtago Shrine
愛宕神社
Atago Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Minato ward of Tokyo, Japan. The shrine sits atop Atago Hill, which rises approximately 26 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest natural points in central Tokyo.
- High
- Place of worship
- Tokyo
Common questions
How long should a first trip to Japan be?
Ten to fourteen days supports four or five days in Tokyo, three or four in Kyoto, and two or three in Osaka. Add Nara or Himeji only after those bases have enough time, and avoid turning every rail stop into a hotel change.
What entry documents are needed for Japan?
Japan's visa exemption or visa requirement depends on passport and travel purpose. Confirm the current rule through Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy responsible for the traveller's residence.
What is the best way to travel around Japan?
The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while local rail and buses cover city travel. An IC card simplifies many local journeys but does not replace every reserved long-distance ticket, and luggage forwarding can reduce friction between bases.
When is a practical time to visit Japan?
March to May and October to November are broad options for the main-island route, with blossom and autumn periods creating concentrated demand. Confirm regional weather and reservations for the exact cities rather than assuming one national season behaves uniformly.
What money and payment basics apply in Japan?
Japan uses the yen (JPY). Electronic payment is common but not universal, so carry some yen for smaller businesses, ticket machines, or rural transport without assuming that one stored-value card works for every purchase.
What practical safety details should I save for Japan?
Japan's emergency numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. Type A sockets operate at 100 V, which is lower than in the other wave-A countries, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.