Ninnaji Temple

One of Kyoto’s most interesting temples, Ninnaji was founded in the year 888 as an Imperial Residence but, like many historic buildings in Japan, has suffered repeated destruction in wars and fires over the centuries.

Today, Ninnaji is the headquarters of the Omuro school of the Buddhist Shingon sect and features a large variety of different buildings and gardens on its spacious grounds, and is one of Kyoto’s UNESCO world heritage sites.

Among the numerous buildings on the temple grounds are elegant palace-style buildings surrounded by beautiful Japanese gardens, a five storied pagoda, various temple halls, a massive entrance gate, a bell tower, and several tea houses.