Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

A really unique temple with thousands of Buddha statues. It is at the end of the traditional Meiji-style street so it is best to combine the two activities. You can get to photograph old Japanese houses and a cute temple. The entrance fee was 500 yen but it was worth it.

The most beautiful place I had the opportunity to visit in Kyoto. The temple is located in the forest. It was worth walking to it from the Saga Arashiyama station because there were wonderful views along the way. As for the place. The ubiquitous greenery, the smell of moss and ferns. The unique energy and atmosphere of the place. Silence and relative peace. A place where you can think in peace and enjoy the view. Visited in September 2024

I start with an advice: there is a bus station across the temple. I didn’t know, I followed a friend and we walked few kilometers from Arashyama bamboo forest and I am not a sporty person. Was torture😂 But for people that workout the road here is easy and goes through a nice village. The temple is at the edge of a forest (at least that’s how it seems). The entrance is 500¥. I think the place is wonderful in the autumn but the fact that is in nature gives it a feeling of peace. Peace is usually broken by the people that ring the bells from there, but I understood that ringing them is part of the ritual. Very beautiful location.

Visited this place in winter, and wow—it felt like stepping into a dream! The snow-covered landscape added a serene charm, making everything look straight out of a painting. Now, about those little human statues—turns out, they’re actually Buddha’s disciples! Many were lost over time due to wars and floods, but here’s the crazy part: they were originally carried up from the river below. Imagine hauling statues up a mountain—talk about dedication! If you are staying in Kyoto, definitely check it out. The view, the history, and the peaceful vibes make it totally worth the visit!

Such a small and fun stop. It's out of the way and very little foot traffic. Only a handful of people are here at any one time. Take the bus up and enjoy the walk back into town looking at all the small shops along the way.

Must come to see this temple! Beautiful gardens with hundreds of carved figures that each has a personality of their own. Haven't seen anything like them. We were lucky to see the beautiful foliage in November. There is also a practicing monk and you can observe prayers. So peaceful and serine.

"And...Love, true love, will follow you forever" - The Princess Bride What is love? It's not only about people, but our beautiful world around us. To me, the purest form of love is waking up each day and loving life itself. As a resident of Kyoto Prefecture, I've visited all the major temples, shrines, historical landmarks, from the architecture of Gion to sipping matcha on the Uji river. I've done it all! Yet, I've never pilgrimaged to the temple of the 1,200 disciples of Buddha until now. Amazing! Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple is hidden on a lush mountain side of Ukyō-ku ward, Arashiyama. Due to its location it is overlooked by many, except for the curious, more adventurous, and pilgrimages. This historic Buddhist Temple was founded in Gion, circa 766 by Empress Shōtoku, however due to natural disasters and misfortunes, it was on the brink of being forgotten and left on the back pages of old books. Fortunately it survived the ravishes of time, relocated several times, and today has a collection of 1,200 unique and whimsical Raken statues, each carved by hand. You will find the expected praying statues to the supernatural. What separates this Buddhist Temple from the rest are the statues of the modern ladies to the kitten, the samurai to the tennis player, the geisha to the boxer, the tourist holding a camera! It's endless and so endearing. Due to the logistics it is rarely visited by the average Kyōtō tourist, except those who are willing to trek outside the more popular areas. To me, this tranquil, small temple, filled with quirkiness and pure love was the most joyful experience of all my pilgrimages across Japan. People come and go, however Otagi Nenbutsu-ji will outlive us all. A place dear to my heart and one might say I felt a sense of belonging. 愛 Pls follow my IG adventures: @eric_travel_guru

Small but surprisingly interesting temple. Very lively, you will be stimulated by your own imagination. Every each of thousands of green lichen-covered stone statues is unique and you should watch them one by one. There is entrance fees anyway but it is worth to spend both time and money on.