Blink, and you’ll miss it. But you shouldn’t. On the famed “temple walk” through the southern Higashiyama district in Kyoto, you’ll pass by and see a lot of temples and shrines. If you’re like us here at WoWasis, you’ll yearn for a few minutes of peace and quiet away from the crowds, and Sho-ren-in Temple is the place to find it. It’s beautiful, close to the path, away from the teeming temple masses.

It’s famous for its giant camphor trees growing outside the main gate, and was the home of the chief abbot of the Tendai school of Buddhism. The present temple was finished in 1985, but the beautiful interior screens are from the 16^th and 17^th centuries. The small garden is a delight.

Sho-ren-in Temple
Sanjobo-cho, Awataguchi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Tel: 075-561-2345
Open 9:00-5:00