Japanese Temple Etiquette
Most traditional shrines and temples in Kyoto Japan are open to tourists, but there are a few basic rules and things to know:
- Always be calm and respectful, not noisy — especially when you’re indoors.
- To go inside of temple buildings, you may have to take off your shoes. This means leaving them at the entrance, or sometimes they’ll provide plastic bags for carrying them with you.
- You can take photos on the temple grounds, but usually not inside of the buildings. If pictures aren’t allowed, it’ll be sign posted.
- Some Kyoto temples and shrines are free, but many are not. If there’s an entrance fee, it’s normally less than 500 Yen ($5 USD) per person and tickets are good for the whole day.
- There are lots of kimono rental shops in Kyoto, and you can wear these to a Japanese temple. If you ask the locals, they aren’t offended by foreigners wearing their traditional dress for pictures, and you’ll see lots of them doing the same.
Best Time To Visit
Kyoto temples and shrines are especially spectacular in the autumn and cherry blossom seasons, but that’s also when they’re the most crowded.
The timing for these seasons is different every year, but you can generally see the sakura season (cherry blossoms) in the last week of March, and fall colors peak around mid November (for the Kyoto area).
Generally the best time of day to visit is early in the morning and late in the afternoon, because the temples can get extremely crowded by midday, especially during holidays and peak seasons.
At any of the temples with ponds (like Kinkakuji), you’ll want to be there early in the morning anyway to capture the reflections on the pond before the wind picks up.
Kyoto Hotels
More Japanese Shrine & Temple Guides
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this list of some of the best temples to visit in Kyoto Japan.
Don’t forget to check out my complete list of the best things to do in Japan before you go! You can also find more tips, info, and photos in my Japan Travel Guide.
Happy travels!
See Also
- Best Things To Do In Japan – What To Do In The Islands
- Japanese Temple Guide – Best Traditional Shrines & Temples To Visit In Japan
- Japan Travel Guide – Food, Castles, & Temples
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