What to do and see in Kinki, Japan: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites

June 7, 2021 Darwin Bolte

The Kansai region (関西地方, Kansai-chihō) or the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki-chihō) lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. While the use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the use of the two terms is interchangeable. The urban region of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto (Keihanshin region) is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area.
Restaurants in Kinki

1. Koyasan Okunoin

550 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun 648-0211 Wakayama Prefecture +81 736-56-2011 http://www.koyasan.or.jp/tazuneru/sights/okunoin.html
Excellent
79%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,261 reviews

Koyasan Okunoin

Reviewed By ggm96822 - Honolulu, United States

A place to let your soul re-awaken. Having last stayed in a monastery here 19 years ago, before it was added to the World Heritage list, I was apprehensive about returning, having heard of busloads of noisy tourists overunning everything, but it defies defilement; one of the world's truly sacred spaces. Early morning and dusk are the best time to visit, early there are monks chanting, at dusk as the shadows fall the 200,000 tombs of the cedar forest begin to stir quietly.

2. Todai-ji Temple

406-1 Zoushi-cho, Nara 630-8587 Nara Prefecture +81 742-22-5511 http://www.todaiji.or.jp/english/index.html
Excellent
70%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5,653 reviews

Todai-ji Temple

Reviewed By Krubee - Singapore, Singapore

After a leisurely and fun stroll in Nara Park with my memorable deer encounters the pinnacle of my journey is the Great Todai-ji temple (Great Eastern Temple), one of the 7 Great Temples in Japan built in the 8th century. Located at the Northern Park of Nara Park. At its entrance stands Nandaimon Gate with two huge sculptures of Guardians. Its Great Buddha Hall at the center of the temple stands Daibutsu or Buddha Vaironaca, a giant bronze statue around 52 ft high. The path leading to the Temple including several complexes (Todai-ji museum, Nigatsudo Hall, Hokkedo Hall, Kaidando Hall to name a few). There is a large bronze bell in front of the Great Hall. In the Great Buddha Hall, two guardians who are equally big stands on each side guarding the shrine. Smaller statues, historical manuscripts and fine sculptures surround this hall and complex. Souvenirs and Toilets are also available in the complex. Incense, Prayers and Offerings are also available at the temple. It was indeed a worthwhile and memorable visit here at Todai-ji temple in Nara Park.

3. Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple

4220 Sakamoto Hommachi, Otsu 520-0116 Shiga Prefecture +81 77-578-0001 http://www.hieizan.or.jp
Excellent
48%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 592 reviews

Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple

Reviewed By audreevisits - Canada, null

This is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism. The Enryaku hotel was, traditional Japanese style, very clean and comfortable- staff was very pleasant and helpful. The food breakfast and dinner was included and extraordinary! Beautiful views of the lake and distant mountains, some days we could see My Fuji in the distance. The Japanese baths were clean and hot. 7am we walked to the main temple to participate in the morning ceremonies. We hiked the mountain and visited the ancient temples, some original and hundreds of years old- learning the story of Zen Buddhism and how it came to be on this sacred mountain.Lots of local pilgrims making offerings and praying- so peaceful

4. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-0882 Kyoto Prefecture +81 75-641-7331 http://inari.jp/
Excellent
67%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 24,494 reviews

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

This shrine is one of many located throughout Japan that was built to honor Inari, the Shinto god of rice.

Reviewed By Cholo_Juan - Nathalia, Australia

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is a must do for visitors to Kyoto to walk upward ever upward via the winding path through hundreds of Tori gates is an amazing experience, stopping along the way to take in the prayer stations some with dozens if not hundreds of small tori placed as votive offerings. We arrived late in the afternoon and had to almost sprint up the hill as the evening darkness closed in on us, but then the lights come on giving the pathway a surreal air as the light casts its shadows through the Tori Gates. It is an arduous walk so make sure you are fit and have good walking shoes but well worth the effort

5. Byodoin Temple

116 Uji Renge, Uji 611-0021 Kyoto Prefecture +81 774-21-2861 http://www.byodoin.or.jp/
Excellent
51%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,628 reviews

Byodoin Temple

Temple near Kyoto; famous statue of seated Buudha by 11th-century sculptor, Jocho.

Reviewed By suzannep34

This temple is an excellent half day's visit from Kyoto. As it's on the JR Nara line, it can be easily combined with the Fushimi Inari shrine, we stopped there on the way back from Uji and had plenty of time to see both. There are some beautiful cherry trees and wisteria in the grounds, and on a sunny day the reflections of the temple in the water must be stunning. We visited on a Saturday afternoon, and although there were crowds of tourists, the traditional tea room was quiet and the matcha green tea, served hot or chilled, is definitely worth trying! Nearby there are lots of matcha souvenir shops and more places to enjoy traditional green tea, also ice cream sprinkled with matcha powder, enjoy!!

6. Hasedera Temple

731-1 Hase, Sakurai 633-0112 Nara Prefecture +81 744-47-7001 [email protected] http://www.hasedera.or.jp/
Excellent
58%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 371 reviews

Hasedera Temple

Hase-dera is also nicknamed a flower 's temple, so it came to be called so because flowers do not go through throughout the year like cherry blossoms, peony, hydrangeas, autumn leaves in autumn. As I go through the mountain gate, I climb a long corridor called Erawing, and in Nara I can visit the main hall (Kannondo) next to Todaiji Temple. There will be a big Kannon exceeding 10 meters. The view from the outside stage where the three sides are surrounded by mountains is a word of great view.

7. Muroji Temple

78 Murou, Murou-ku, Uda 633-0421 Nara Prefecture +81 745-93-2003 http://www.murouji.or.jp
Excellent
56%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 224 reviews

Muroji Temple

8. Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

Hongucho Hongu, Tanabe 647-1731 Wakayama Prefecture +81 735-42-0009 http://www.hongutaisha.jp
Excellent
52%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 545 reviews

Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

Reviewed By Maya762015 - Le Havre, France

This shrine is very nice and even 3 of 5 parts are from origin (saved by the flood) , this worth it to come. You can smell the tree odor in this shrine. Roof are amazing

9. Tamaki Shrine

1 Tamaigawa, Totsukawa-mura, Yoshino-gun 647-1582 Nara Prefecture +81 746-64-0500 http://www.tamakijinja.or.jp/
Excellent
68%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 110 reviews

Tamaki Shrine

10. Tarobogu Shrine (Aga Shrine)

2247 Owakicho, Higashiomi 527-0091 Shiga Prefecture +81 748-23-1341 http://www.tarobo.sakura.ne.jp/
Excellent
41%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 59 reviews

Tarobogu Shrine (Aga Shrine)

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