Japan’s famous temples are mainly concentrated in Japan’s three ancient capitals, Kyoto, Nara and Kamakura. Buddhist culture is an important part of Japanese culture and has an important influence on Japanese literature, music, art and daily life. Famous temples in the Kyoto area include: *Kinkakuji Temple - the official name is Roenji Temple, located in Kita District, the center of Kitayama culture in Kyoto. The second and third floors of the Golden Pavilion, which is the relic hall of the temple, are covered with gold foil, making it look magnificent. The original structure was destroyed in 1950 due to arson by temple monks and rebuilt in 1955. The pond-style garden in the temple is also quite eye-catching. *Dade Temple - located in the North District. Founded in 1351, it once became the first of the five Buddhist mountains in Japan. Many important cultural relics are preserved in the vast temple, including the tomb of Sen no Rikyu, the founder of Japanese tea ceremony. *Sanzen-in——located in Sakyo Ward. It is a Tiantai sect temple built on high ground. It was originally built by Master Saicheng. It was moved several times due to wars and was moved to its current temple site after the Qingren Rebellion. The three Amitabha statues placed in the Paradise Temple are very famous. *Jakkoin Temple - located in Sakyo Ward. It is said that the Tendai Sonu-an was founded in 594 by Prince Shotoku. After the fall of the Heike family, the mother of Emperor Adoku built Reimon-in Temple and became a nun at this temple. There is a Jizo statue in the main hall that is more than 2 meters high. *Kiyomizu Temple - was built in 798. Located in Higashiyama District, most of the existing buildings were rebuilt in 1633 by the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. This temple is the headquarters of Faxiang Sect. The main hall has a wooden platform supported by 139 wooden pillars on the cliff. It is a good place for viewing cherry blossoms in spring and maple leaves in autumn. *Chion-in Temple - Located in Dongshan District, it is the headquarter of the Pure Land Sect founded by Master Horan in 1175. The three gates built in 1619 are the largest in Japan, and the main hall houses a statue of Hoenjo. *Daigoji Temple - located in Fushimi Ward. It is the headquarter of the Daigo sect of the Shingon sect and was founded by Master Rigen in 847. The five-story pagoda inside the temple is one of the oldest buildings in Kyoto. Since Toyotomi Hideyoshi came to this temple to enjoy cherry blossoms, the temple has become a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto. *Jiwanghuguo Temple - located in the South District. Because the temple is the headquarters of the Toji Shingon sect, it is commonly known as "Toji". The temple has national treasure buildings such as the 57-meter-high five-story pagoda and the golden hall, and also houses various precious cultural relics from the Heian period. *Myoshinji Temple - located in Ukyo Ward. It is the headquarter of the Myoshinji sect of the Rinzai sect. In 1337, Emperor Hanazono converted his palace into a Zen monastery, which is a typical Zen temple building. The 400,000-square-meter temple has seven halls, the only one in Japan. The Buddhist bell, a national treasure, is also the oldest in Japan. *Guanglong Temple - located in Ukyo District. It was built in 622 on the orders of Prince Shotoku and is the headquarters of the Shingon sect. Because this temple is the most outstanding temple building of the Asuka Period, it has been designated as Japan's No. 1 National Treasure. Inside the temple is a statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva half-legged in meditation. *Sanjusangendo - the official name is Hualienouin. Located in Dongshan District. It was first built in 1164 and rebuilt in 1266. The name of the temple comes from the pillar room between the 33 pillars supporting the temple, which houses 1001 wooden Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara statues. Famous temples in the Nara area include: *Kofukuji Temple - the headquarter of Hosho Sect, one of the "Seven Great Temples in Nanto". In 710, it was moved to the current temple site as the home temple of the Fujiwara family. After several fires, all the buildings and utensils of the original temple have been destroyed. There are still many national treasures in the temple, such as Dongjin Hall, five-story pagoda and three-story pagoda. *Todaiji Temple - is the headquarter of the Huayan sect, another major sect of the "Seven Great Temples of the Southern Capital", and is also one of the few large temples in Japan. Founded in 752 by Prince Shotoku. It was damaged by war and was rebuilt in the middle of the Edo period. The temple includes the Mitsukido Hall, the South Gate, and the Golden Hall, as well as the Shosoin Temple, which is specially used to collect ancient arts and crafts, and the 14.8-meter-high seated statue of Lucena Buddha (commonly known as the "Nara Great Buddha"). *Tang Zhaoti Temple - is a giant temple founded by the great monk Jianzhen in the Tang Dynasty in China in 759. It is the headquarters of the Vinaya Sect. The temple imitates the architectural format and layout of Chinese temples, and the influence of Chinese culture can be seen everywhere in the temple. The numerous Buddha statues and Jianzhen sitting statues enshrined in the golden hall are exquisite products from the Tianping period. *Yakushi Temple - the headquarters of the Hosang Sect, one of the "Seven Great Temples in the Southern Capital".

It was established in 680 on the order of Emperor Tenmu. The three statues of the pharmacist and the portrait of Jishoutian currently existing in the temple are the highest masterpieces of Japanese Buddhist art. *Horyuji Temple - located in Ikaruga Town, Nara Prefecture, so it is commonly known as "Ikaruga Temple". It is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku in 607 and is the headquarter of the Shotoku sect, one of the "Seven Great Temples of Nanshan". The golden hall, five-story pagoda, central gate, and part of the cloister are the oldest existing wooden buildings in the world, and are therefore designated as World Cultural Heritage. Famous temples in the Kamakura area include: *Zuisenji Temple - originally a temple of the Kenchoji sect of the Rinzai sect founded by Yumeko Kokusho in 1327, it later became the cemetery of Ashikaga, Kamakura Imperial Palace. The temple area is 160,000 square meters, the largest in Kamakura. The daffodils and plum blossoms in the temple are very famous. *Kotoku-yuan - There is a bronze seated statue of Amitabha in the territory, commonly known as the Kamakura Great Buddha. The statue is 11.39 meters high, and the lotus seat is 13.4 meters larger. Weighing 121 tons, it was cast in 1252 and has become a symbol of the ancient capital Kamakura. *Haiguangshan Ci Zhaoyuan - commonly known as "Changgu Temple", is a famous temple of the Pure Land Sect established in 736. The eleven-faced Guanyin statue in the temple is carved from a huge piece of wood and is 9.2 meters high. It is a work of the Nara period. The temple is built on the middle of a mountain, overlooking the scenery of Hihama and Hayama coast. In addition to the three ancient capitals, Sensoji Temple in Tokyo and Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture are also very famous temples. * Sensoji Temple - Founded in 628, it is the headquarter of the Holy Avalokitesvara Sect. "Asakusa" is originally a Tibetan transliteration, meaning "the place where Saint Guanyin lives". The holy Guanyin Bodhisattva enshrined in this temple is also called "Asakusa Guanyin". *Chongsonji Temple - This temple is a Tendai sect temple founded by Master Jikuaku in 850. It is the largest monument of Fujiwara culture in ancient Oshu. Inside the temple is the Golden Hall where the mummy of the third generation of Fujiwara is hidden. The hall is covered with gold foil, which is dazzling. It was originally built to collect Buddhist scriptures such as "All Sutras". The temple is known as a treasure trove of Heian period arts and crafts.