The most beautiful religious buildings Kyoto

It is certainly the most famous monument in Japan. It takes its name from the large golden-roofed pavilion in the middle of the park, which is brilliantly reflected in the surrounding lake. The park surrounding the garden is just as sublime as the pavilion itself.

The pavilion. Built on the site of the country house of Kintsune Saionji, a nobleman of the Kamakura period, at the beginning of the 13th century. The shōgun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, after handing over power to his son Yoshimichi, decided to retire and had the Golden Pavilion, which he designed, and the gardens built in 1397. Upon his death, his son converted it into the Rokuon Temple. It is also called Rokuon-ji. The suicide of a young mad monk caused the pavilion to burn down in 1950. This tragic accident was immortalized by Yukio Mishima in his novel The Golden Pavilion. The pavilion was rebuilt identically in 1955, although gold leaf originally covered only the second floor. The building is entirely covered with pure gold, except for the ground floor. It serves as a shariden, containing relics of Buddha. From an architectural point of view, it is a harmonious and elegant building that combines three different types of architecture: the ground floor (Hō-sui-in) is in the Shinden-zukuri style, the style of palaces of the Heian period; the first floor (Chō-on-dō) follows the Buke-zukuri style of samurai houses and the second floor (Kukkyō-chō) is in the Karayō style, that of Zen temples. At the top of the shingled roof is the carving of a golden fenghuang, or "Chinese phoenix".

The garden. It was part of a gigantic property belonging to the family of Kintsune Saionji. It was designed by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga in such a way that the arrangement of rocks and plants gives it a Zen style. It is believed that his design was directly influenced by Kokushi Mus, the great master of moss gardens. The garden was devastated during the Civil War and only the Golden Pavilion survived. We can notice the Sekka-tei Tea Pavilion, built in the 17th century and the Kyōhoku-rō, a construction dating from the Meiji era. The whole (garden and pavilion) is since 1994 classified in the world heritage of the Humanity of UNESCO. Try to go there a little before or after the lunch break to avoid the crowd of organized trips that crowds around the pavilion trying to find the perfect photograph to immortalize the beauty of the place.

Unquestionably one of the most spectacular temples in Kyoto. It is known for the 1001 wooden statues of the goddess Kannon lined up in the main pavilion, drowned in incense fumes.
Originally built in 1164 for Emperor Go-Shirakawa by Kiyonomori no Taira before they became enemies. The temple burned down in 1249 and was rebuilt as it was in 1266. It consists of a huge hall 119 m long and 18 m wide, divided into thirty-three bays. They represent the thirty-three forms of reincarnation of Kannon Bosatsu, which gave rise to the 33 western pilgrimages and the 33 eastern pilgrimages. In the center of the hall is the famous 3-meter-high statue of Kannon with ten heads and the statue of Amida, executed by Tankei (1254), son of Unkei. Another must-see is the incredible series of 1,001 statues of Kannon, arranged in staggered rows, which were carved using the so-called yosegi technique: hollow pieces of wood were assembled and loosely carved, then other craftsmen worked on the details, before lacquering the statues. At the back are the Nijūhachi Bushū, or 28 statues of Senju Bosatsu's acolytes, which symbolize the twenty-eight constellations in esoteric Buddhism.

Myoho-in. This is the main temple of the Sanjūsangen-dō located north of the Chishaku-in. The temple is open only on rare occasions. It was originally built on the slopes of Mount Hiei. It still houses paintings by Shoei and Eitoku Kanō.

On the slopes of Mount Otowa, the Kiyomizu-dera, is dedicated to the Kannon goddess of compassion. It is one of the most visited sites in the city, especially for the superb view of Kyōto as the sun sets. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 778. According to legend, the monk Enshin, guided by a vision, met a hermit near the waterfall and realized that he was an incarnation of Kannon. He decides to protect this sacred area. Two years later, Tamuramarō Sakanoe (758-811), general of the armies who had subdued the rebel tribes in 776 and received the distinction of Sei-i-Tai shōgun, was hunting in the vicinity. Enshin rebuked him and taught him the virtues of Kannon. Touched, the general decided to build the temple of pure water on the spot and to preserve an eleven-headed statue of Kannon, which Enshin is said to have executed. This would only be visible every thirty-three years.
Most of the buildings were destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times. The present pavilions date mostly from the 16th century. They were rebuilt in 1633 under Iemitsu Tokugawa. The platform of the Kiyomizu, about 190 square metres, is supported by an imposing 13-metre-high scaffolding made of 18 cypress wood pillars attached to each other without the use of nails, using a traditional construction method. By heading east, we can see the Shaka-dō, the Amida-dō and finally the Okuno-in, built on the site of the Enchin hermitage. It is here that the sacred triple waterfall (Otowa no Taki), which is the object of pilgrimages, rises. Priests come to pray under the waterfall.

Stroll at the exit of the temple. When you leave the Kiyomizu-dera temple, you walk for several hundred meters on the right side of the small road to Shichimiya Honpo. After climbing a staircase, we reach a street called Sannen-zaka, lined with wooden houses and whose main activity is selling pottery. There are also a few tea houses with their gardens. Going down a little bit, you first turn left and then right to reach another zigzag street called Ninen-Zaka ("two-year climbing") which leads to the temple Kōdai-ji. In this neighbourhood, there is a street considered to be one of the most charming streets in Kyoto, Ishibei Kōji. It is a paved alley lined with old Japanese inns where you can have a drink or a snack. The Maruyama-kōen park is only a few steps away.

The shrine is located between the Gion and Higashiyama districts and dominates the main avenue Shijō-dōri.It is said to have been founded in 876. It is called Gion-san, as it is considered by the inhabitants of Kyoto as the real guardian of the Gion district. It is very popular during Hatsumode, i.e. visits to the shrine for New Year's greetings. The shrine is also at the heart of the great Gion Matsuri festival which takes place in July and is undoubtedly one of the most famous festivals in all of Japan.

If the Golden and Silver Pavilions are among the most visited and known monuments in Japan, the Ryōan-ji (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon) is probably the most admired Zen garden. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery Ryōan was founded in 1450 by Katsumoto (1430-1473). The temple was burned during the Onin Civil War and rebuilt by Masamoto Hosokawa, son of Katsumoto, from 1488 to 1499. It is assumed that it was between this date and 1507, the date of Masamoto's death, that Sōami (1455-1525) designed the garden in the kare-sansui (dried mountain water) style. This garden is now considered one of the masterpieces of the Japanese Zen period.

The garden. With a surface area of 200^m2

, it is a rectangular garden enclosed by a wall on three sides, the last being open to a corridor. The entire surface area of the garden is an ocean of gravel on which fifteen rocks of different sizes are arranged and placed in such a way that, whatever your position in the corridor, you may only see fourteen of them. This ocean of gravel is carefully raked every day by the monk in charge of the temple. Behind the wall, tombs are lined up, including those of Emperor Go Shujaku (1009-1045).

The lake Oshidōri. In the center of the temple, there is a large lake in the middle of which a small island can be seen. It is a bucolic scenery that leads to contemplation. A walk around the lake in the lush nature is a real treat.

Also known as "Awata Palace", this Buddhist temple was built at the end of the 13th century. It is recognizable among a thousand thanks to its camphor trees (the oldest of which is nearly 800 years old!). From the beginning, it was the residence of the imperial abbot of the headquarters of the Tendai sect. Although the current building dates from 1895, paintings from the Kanō and Tosa schools from the 16th and 17th centuries can still be seen there. The main interest of this temple lies in the beautiful gardens designed by Sōami and Enshū Kobori.

We find in this temple a palace built for the emperor Kōkō (830-887) and completed for his son. The cloistered rule was established by Go-Sanjō to counterbalance the influence of the Fujiwara clan who had made his duties hereditary. The retired emperor ruled in place of the reigning emperor from a monastery. The abbots who succeeded each other here were almost all descendants of the imperial family. Sculpted symbols, still visible on the walls of the temple, attest to his imperial affiliation. To be seen during the flowering of the cherry trees.

A pretty little shrine where Japanese women go in great numbers, because it is known for love and birth vows on the one hand, and for the "power spot", a place that confers spiritual energy, on the other hand. The princesses of Ise, named priestesses, came here to perform purification rites. A famous nō play is inspired by a part of the Tale of Genji where the action takes place at Nonomiya Jinja. The place is not a must-see, but does not lack charm. If you pass by, take a look at the amulets.

Temple of the Rinzai sect, it is one of the five great temples of the city. It was founded in 1226 by Enni. The name of Tōfuku-ji takes the name of two famous temples of Nara, the Tōdai-ji and the Kōfuku-ji. Many times destroyed by the vagaries of war and climate, it was entirely rebuilt in 1347 and it is in this form that it is presented today. The current complex of Tōfuku-ji currently has 24 buildings. We note the magnificent stone and sand garden designed by one of the most famous Buddhist monks of his time: Sesshu.