Attractions in Western Kyōto

The Katsura Imperial Villa (also known as Katsura Detached Palace) is one of the finest examples of non-religious Edo-era architecture in Kyōto. The palace, old and middle shoin (drawing rooms)...Read more

Daikaku-ji is a Shingon temple dating from the Heian period. It is famous for moon-viewing boat cruises on Lake Ōsawa. Shakyō (sutra transcription) lessons are held daily at the temple. Daikaku-ji was founded in 876 by Empress Masako...Read more

Nestled on a slope of Kyōto's Arashiyama district, Tenryū-ji (literally "celestial dragon temple") is listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism...Read more

Nested on a flank of the Arashiyama Hills, between Tenryū-ji and Jōjakkō-ji, is the "mountain villa" of the silent-film actor Ōkōchi Denjirō (1898-1962). Denjirō Ōkōchi was one of the most acclaimed stars of jidaigeki (historical drama) and...Read more

Saihō-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple well-known for its moss garden. It is commonly referred to as "Koke-dera" (苔寺 ; "moss temple"). It is one of the 13 Buddhist temples in Kyōto listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list...Read more

Giō-ji is a Shingon temple affiliated to the nearby Daikaku-ji, and similarly sharing a connection with the Imperial court. The temple is just a small thatched building. The main attraction is the moss garden, which display all its glory in the...Read more