Chōraku-ji Temple — Attraction in Kyoto

We came here for a 7am morning service because we were staying at the related shukubo Yugyouan down the street. It was a delightful experience. It was just the priest and 3 of us shukubo folks. The priest did the chants while we read along. He even gave a dedication with our names included. We got to go up and offer incense during the ceremony. The. He gave a brief tour of the altar in Japanese and let us walk around the grounds ourselves. We could ring the big temple bell and visit the small waterfall, cemetery, and mini museum. It was a low key but rich temple experience. Definitely not clogged with tourists, this was a lovely...

Serene gardens with a chance to explore grave sites up in dense forest hills. You can find a beautiful view of Kyoto as you zig and zag the small paths. The temple features are quite exquisite yet humble, perfect for the setting. You have to pay a small fee (500 yen) to enter, which seems to scare off enough tourists, so you may have the opportunity to explore the grounds without running into anyone else (which can be a relief if you've visited some of the more...

As of Sept, 2025, I can't really recommend this temple. It has great historical significance and a history of over 1,000 years, but unless you know the context behind it I wouldn't recommend it for general tourism. Especially for the cost of entry at 800 yen, there are other sub-temples in the surrounding area where you can take a break from the crowds with better quality gardens and...