Shoren-in Temple, Kyoto

If you need a break from the tourist stampede in Kyoto, Shoren-in might just be your secret hideout鈥攍ess crowded, more enchanted. Once an imperial residence and run by monks with royal blood, this temple's palatial architecture still exudes the quiet elegance of old aristocracy.

As you enter, you'll be greeted by a grove of ancient camphor trees that have been standing here for over 700 years. Inside the Kacho-den hall, you鈥檒l find lotus blossoms blooming across the walls and portraits of the legendary 36 Immortal Poets giving you the silent treatment. Then, there鈥檚 the massive tatami room鈥攊deal for unwinding while soaking in a picture-perfect pond garden designed by the master artist Soami, Kyoto鈥檚 own 16th-century landscaping guru. With a moss garden, dry landscape garden, and azalea garden also on offer, this is, indeed, a paradise for garden lovers.

Follow the covered walkways (reminiscent of Heian-era palaces) and you鈥檒l reach the main hall, featuring, instead of your usual Buddha statue, a rather unusual object of worship: a glowing mandala, holding center stage. Around the corner is the Kobun-tei tea house, lovingly rebuilt after a 1993 fire, now home to delicate art by Uemura Atsushi, a Kyoto native painter renowned for his depictions of birds and flowers.

And when spring or autumn hits, Shoren-in goes full showtime, becoming the 鈥淰egas of temples鈥� with its dazzling illuminations. Thanks to its patron deity, Shijoko Nyorai, the god of light, the temple transforms into a luminous dreamscape. Illuminations ripple through the gardens like sacred electricity鈥攖urning this peaceful haven into one of Kyoto鈥檚 most surreal night spectacles.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Kyoto. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Shoren-in Temple
Sight Location: Kyoto, Japan (See walking tours in Kyoto)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Higashiyama Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Kyoto, Japan

Create Your Own Walk in Kyoto

Creating your own self-guided walk in Kyoto is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Walk on Philosopher's Path

Looking for a scenic walk with a side of existential pondering in Kyoto, you're inevitably bound to end up on the Philosopher鈥檚 Path. Winding its way for about two kilometers along the leafy canal that carries water from Lake Biwa to the foothills, this picturesque walking trail once served as the thinking route of Nishida Kitaro. Back in the first half of the 20th century, the famed... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Gion District Walking Tour

Gion, one of Kyoto鈥檚 most captivating districts, is deeply rooted in Japan鈥檚 cultural heritage. Located in the Higashiyama (the so-called 鈥淓astern Mountain鈥�) neighborhood, its history dates back to the Sengoku period, when it began as a hospitality area for pilgrims visiting Yasaka Shrine. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it had evolved into a renowned entertainment quarter,... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

Arashiyama and Bamboo Grove Walking Tour

The Arashiyama district of Kyoto is slightly out of the way for tourists, but that means you can enjoy it more comfortably.

Undoubtedly, the most popular attraction here is the iconic Bamboo Grove, a mesmerizing forest of towering bamboo stalks that sway gently in the breeze, creating an ethereal atmosphere. This serene setting is a must-visit for travelers seeking tranquility amidst... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

Kyoto Shopping and Food Tour

The cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto is just as famous as a shopper鈥檚 paradise and, without a doubt, the best place in the country to buy traditional and modern Japanese goods. Souvenirs, food, bargains, and various 鈥渙ne-of-a-kind items鈥� are all up for grabs here.

In addition to its shopping scene, Kyoto boasts a rich culinary heritage, from Michelin-starred restaurants to humble street... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Imperial Kyoto Walking Tour

Kyoto served as Japan鈥檚 imperial capital for over 1,000 years, from 794 to 1869, beginning with Emperor Kanmu鈥檚 relocation of his court to Heian-ky艒 (which is Kyoto鈥檚 former name). Though political power eventually shifted to the shogunate and later to Tokyo, Kyoto remained the cultural and symbolic heart of Japan. Its long association with the imperial court helped shape it into a refined... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Higashiyama Walking Tour

It'd be fair to say that Kyoto is a theme park for lovers of history, religion, and all things deeply, unmistakably Japanese. If so, Higashiyama Ward, with its long lines, can easily be recognized as its star attraction. Tucked along the city鈥檚 eastern edge鈥攈ence its poetic name translated as 鈥淓astern Mountain鈥濃€攖his district is where Kyoto flaunts its heritage like a geisha in full... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

View all walking tours in Kyoto, Japan

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

18 Japanese Products To Bring Home from Kyoto

The old capital of Japan, the city of Kyoto has once again been the talk of the world lately, thanks to the bestselling "Memoirs of a Geisha" book and the namesake Hollywood blockbuster movie. Renowned for its impeccable craftsmanship, Japan has so much to amaze a foreign eye with. Many of...