Ninnaji Temple

Ninnaji (仁和寺) is one of Kyoto's most revered temples, recognized as a World Heritage Site. Founded in 888, it serves as the head temple of the Omuro School of Shingon Buddhism. Once known as Omuro Imperial Palace, the temple has been home to many imperial family priests. Though its original buildings were lost to wars and fires, structures from the early Edo Period, like the Kondo, Kannon Hall, Niomon gate, and the five-story pagoda, remain today.

A must-see at Ninnaji is the Goten, the head priest’s former residence. Designed like an imperial palace, it features beautiful gardens and ornate fusuma doors. The temple is also famous for its Omuro cherry trees, which bloom late in the season, making it a prime spot for cherry blossom viewing in mid-April.