Ninna-ji is a large Buddhist temple in the northwestern part of Kyoto. Most tourists only head to nearby Kinkaku-ji, but Ninna-ji often offers a much more peaceful experience.

The sprawling complex, with its five-story pagoda, gardens and former imperial palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The smaller crowds here make the Kyoto experience a little more authentic than at the most famous temples.

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Is Ninna-ji worth a visit?

✅ Yes, if:

• you want to see a large temple complex without mass crowds of tourists
• you are planning a tour of the northwestern temples of Kyoto
• you like beautiful Japanese gardens

❌ More likely not if:

• you only have 1 day in Kyoto and only want to see the most famous sights
• you are looking for a distinctly photogenic place like the Golden Pavilion

💡 Alternative:
If you want to see the most famous temple in this part of the city, head to Kinkaku-ji. You'll find a Zen stone garden at the nearby Ryoan-ji Temple.

The pagoda and the former imperial palace at Ryokuji

Ninna-ji is not just one temple, but a large historical complex.

You will find here:

• a five-story pagoda
• the former imperial palace of Goten
• extensive gardens
• several smaller temple buildings

Due to the size of the grounds, there is usually not the same crowd of tourists as many other sights in Kyoto.

The famous Omuro sakura

The temple is most famous for the Omuro-zakura sakura.

These bloom later than most cherry trees in Kyoto. So if you come at the end of sakura season, Ninna-ji is one of the places where there is still a good chance of seeing the trees in bloom.

• 👉 When do sakura trees bloom in Japan?

The most common mistakes

1️⃣ Just visit Kinkaku-ji and move on
Northwest Kyoto has more interesting temples and most people combine them into one itinerary.

2️⃣ Just come here for a quick stop
The grounds are quite large and it can take more time to walk around.

3️⃣ Underestimate this part of the city
Many people just head to Higashiyama, but northwest Kyoto also has some very interesting sights.

How to include Ninna-ji in your itinerary

Ninna-ji is most often combined with other temples in northwest Kyoto.

Typical route:

• Kinkaku-ji
• Ryoan-ji
• Ninna-ji

You can also combine this area with a trip to the Arashiyama district.

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Admission and opening hours

Open approximately 9:00-17:00.

Admission is as follows:

• 800 jpy - grounds + gardens
• 1 300 jpy - Grounds + Gardens + Kannon Hall

Can be purchased on site in cash or via the getyourguide.com sales channel.

How to get there

The temple is located in the northwestern part of Kyoto.

This area is far from the city centre, so expect to travel at least 50-75 minutes.

• Buses - Omuro Ninnaji bus stop right in front of the temple
  • JR-West Line - direction Shijo Omiya (Hankyu Railway), Kyoto Station
  • Line 10 - direction Nijo Castle, Karasuma Marutamachi Green Line subway station (transfer for Kyoto Station and Nara direction), Kawaramachi
  • Line 26 - direction Shijo Omiya (Hankyu Railway), Shijo Karasuma, Kyoto Station
  • Line 59 - direction Kinkaku-ji, Karasuma Imadegawa Green Line subway station (change for Kyoto Station and Nara), Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kawaramachi
• Randen Tram - Omuro Ninnagji stop about 3 minutes walk
  • direction Arashiyama

For details on transport, see the Kyoto Transport chapter.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Kyoto.