Today we will seewhich are the most important temples in Japan, and for thatwe put together a guide with the most representative temples and shrines of Japan, those that you should visit yes or yes, if you decide to travel to this country.

This is very important in case you arrive at the temple area and do not find it. You can ask any local and they will understand you with the following words:

Shrine is called ‘神社’ (じんじゃ; Jinja)

It is also called ‘お寺’ おてら Otera.

Adding at the end Doko desuka? The Japanese will understand that he is looking for a temple and will guide you to the best known in the area.

Example: Otera doko desuka? will be more than enough to be understood.

伊勢 (Ise) was the former name of Mie Prefecture. “Shingu” (Jingu) is the title with the highest level of formality that can be given to a shrine.

During the Edo period, “Ise Mairi”, visiting Ise Jingu was very popular. Today the landscape can be seen captured in paintings by Ukiyo-e and others. At that time, travel and the expenses that it represented were not so high that even villagers could visit it. If you visit this place, don’t miss local delicacies such as akafuku and Ise udon.

It is located in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. In 1996 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. It is very famous for its red Torii gate resting on the blue sea, it is extremely popular for both Japanese and foreign tourists from all over.

Six of its buildings, including the main hall, have been designated national treasures.

One of the local delicacies is Momijidani, shaped like a maple leaf.

This Shrine is practically as famous as “Torii”. He is known for his beautiful images of ‘千本鳥居 (Senbon Torii)‘ which means “1000 Torii”.

The truth is that there are not a thousand Torii gates.

This place is dedicated to Inari, who is the God of agriculture and commercial prosperity. We can see sculptures of the messenger of the God Inari, who is a fox, all over the work.

There are details such as the key to the barn, the marble that symbolizes wealth, the ear of corn that symbolizes the harvest and to represent wisdom holds a parchment.

It is located in the city of Uji, in Kyoto, and is part of the “Historical Monuments of Ancient Kyoto“, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1994.

It was built in the Heian period, and is famous for being a symbol of Japan’s oldest architecture, which puts it in the place of a National Treasure.

Legend has it that Ujinowakiiratsuko, worshipped as if he were a deity, arrived in Uji guided by the hand of a rabbit, which is why you can meet a cute omikuji in the shape of a rabbit.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, it is a sanctuary famous for its hot springs, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture.

Both the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, two shrines of Nikko Futaarasan, a temple of Nikkosan Rinnoji and the ruins surrounding all these buildings, are considered “shrines and temples of Nikko”.

It owns a sculpture of a cat sleeping in the sunlight surrounded by red and white peonies, Nemuri-neko (ねむリねコ) which is also a national treasure, and also the famous sculpture “Sanjaru”, which means “three monkeys” (見ざる, 言わざる, 聞かざる) Mizaru, Iwazaru, Kikazaru, which means, “don’t see, don’t talk, don’t hear”.

This sculpture is related to the famous phrase from the Analects, “do not see, do not hear, do not speak, do not act unless it is yes” (unless it is correct).

This is a very representative shrine of Tokyo and extremely popular in Hatsumode.

It is located near Shinjuku Station, so if you are traveling to Tokyo it would be a comfortable place to visit.

It is a very famous place as a sanctuary, but also as a bird observatory, since you can walk simulating the walk of a forest.

Here the birds come both in spring and autumn, but especially in winter.

If you’re lucky, you may spot the “glass flycatcher” or “ruribitaki” with its fine blue fur.

Behind the main hall is Kitaike, and to the south are Meiji, Jingu, Gyoen, and Nanchi.

The entire Mount Koya (located in Wakayama Prefecture) was registered by UNESCO in 2004 as a World Heritage Site, declared a “Sacred Site and Pilgrimage Route in the Kii Mountain Range”.

If you decide to visit this place, don’t forget to try the “Koya Tofu”, a representative ingredient of the “Shojin-ryori”, which is a food from the Japanese temple.

This is a temple that belongs to the Tendai sect (天台宗), it is famous for the “thousands of Guanyin’ (千手観音), nicknamed ‘蓮華王 (Rengeo; King of Lotus)’. The official name of this building is “Rengeoinhondo”.

This temple belongs to the Pure Land sect and is home to some very important cultural properties including “Yamagoe Amitado”, declared a National Treasure.

The official name of this temple is “Rokuon-ji”, it is the Shariden of Rokuon-ji Temple.

This temple has gained fame from the novel Yukio Mishima (三島由紀夫).

The official name of this temple is “音羽山清水寺 (Otowayama Kiyomizu-dera)”.

It is very famous for the way it blends in with nature. There are endless photos showing this beautiful mixture that invites foreigners and even native people of the country to visit it. It seems that it emerges from the trees and floats in the heights. If you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to visit it!

Famous for its national treasure “Hoodo”, it is located in Uji, Kyoto.

This temple is famous for “Daian”, a Japanese National Treasure. It is the only tea room designed by Sen no Rikuy, founder of the tea ceremony, that has survived.

Kyoto’s Kyoizu-dera Temple, Byodo-in Temple, and Rokuon-ji Temple (kinkaku-ji temple) were all declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994.

This temple was built by Prince Shotoku, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1993. It is famous for having the oldest wooden structure in the world, Saiga-ran.

Todai-ji Temple, a representative of Nara , is famous for the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), the Golden Hall (national treasure), Lushana Buddha (Great Buddha), and the Octagonal Lantern 八角燈籠.

Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Kongo-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Toshodai-ji temples, all located in Nara, were declared a World Heritage Site in 1998 by UNESCO.

Sensoji Temple is one of the oldest in Tokyo. It is well known around the world as a major tourist attraction. Its location is in Asakusa, which is a very interesting place to visit for its specialties, festivals and more.

For the Japanese, temples and shrines are not exclusive places for religious ceremonies, there are certain representative events for which they are visited, such as:

– Matsuri (祭Ri): This event is held in different ways in each shrine. For example, in Buddhism it is called “Ennuchi”, many people visit it to feel a festive atmosphere.

– Weddings (結婚式): There are two types, those that take place in shrines, “shinzen-shiki” and those held in temples, “butsuzen – shiki”.

– Funerals: There are two different styles to hold a funeral, one is according to the church and the other is according to Buddhism.

– New Year: “Hatsumode” 初詣, this event is celebrated in both shrines and temples.

– Pregnancies and childbirth: To perform prayers for a safe birth for the mother and the baby “Obiiwai”, while, in order to visit a shrine with the baby, the baby must be about one month old “Omiya Mairi”.

It is possible that if you are on a tour of Japan you will witness some of these events that we have just described.

There are shrines and temples located throughout Japan because they have always been part of its culture. They are places where all kinds of events take place, from mass holidays to the most personal and religious. When you go to Japan, locate some of these places in your itinerary, we assure you that you will not regret it!