Kyoto temples

Kyoto was laid out in 794 on the model of ancient Chinese capitals and remained the seat of the imperial court until the mid-19th century. Over those centuries emperors, aristocrats, shoguns and religious orders built and rebuilt temples and shrines, and the city became the centre of Japanese religious architecture and garden design.

UNESCO describes the World Heritage property as 17 components in Kyoto, Uji and Otsu, with 198 buildings and 12 gardens, most built or designed between the 10th and 17th centuries. All but one of the components, Nijo-jo castle, are religious establishments, and 16 are owned by religious organisations. UNESCO identifies fire as the greatest risk to the property, which is one reason smoking and naked flames are strictly controlled at temples.

For Kyoto residents, these places are active religious sites rather than museums. Families visit shrines for festivals, New Year prayers and life events, temples hold memorial services and ceremonies that can close halls without notice, and monks and priests maintain gardens daily. Kyoto City asks visitors to treat temples and shrines as sacred, keep out of restricted areas, keep noise down and not damage anything on the grounds. Popular areas such as Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari are designated Beautification Promotion Areas, where littering and smoking on the street can be fined.