The Most Beautiful Sculptures In Kyoto

With its numerous temples, shrines, and places of historical and cultural significance, it’s no wonder that Kyoto has so many lovely sculptures available to the public. Here are the best sculptures you can see in the city, and the stories behind them.

1. The Rakan statues

The Rakan statues

If you visit the lush slopes of Arashiyama, the hills lying to the west of Kyoto city, you’ll find the Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple. Standing all over the temple grounds, are 1,200 statues of rakan, the original disciples and followers of the Buddha, carved from stone and covered with moss. They were carved decades ago by believers who worshipped at the temple, and were donated as a blessing. Due to the many different sculptors involved in the project, many of whom were amateur, all the statues have different expressions, poses, and artistic styles: they may be praying, laughing, holding birds and even goblets. These differences add a touch of magic and whimsy to this lovely temple, making it a true hidden treasure.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8am-5pm

Watch out for: the different expressions of the rakan

Address: 2-5 Sagatoriimoto Fukatanicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8439, +81 75-865-1231

2. Statue of Izumo no Okuni

Bridge, Shrine

If you reach Gion by crossing the Kamo river, you’ll find a statue of a dancing woman dressed in traditional attire. Located near the Shijo-Ohashi Bridge, at the entrance of Gion Shijo, this statue was erected as a tribute to Izumo no Okuni, a 16th century miko (shrine maiden) who is believed to be the inventor of Kabuki, a form of dance-drama known for its bizarre elements. This statue is located by the Shijo-Ohashi Bridge, near Shijo, where Izumo no Okuni performed, and Gion, the district of geishas.

Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Watch out for: the view of Kyoto across the river

3. The fox statues at Fushimi Inari Shirne

Shinto Shrine, Shrine

Statues of foxes can be found all over the grounds, temples, and sub-temples of this beautiful Shinto shrine, from the guardian statues on either side of the gate to a fox-shaped fountain. This is because this ancient shrine is the head shrine of the Shinto deity Inari, the kami(or spirit) related to harvest, rice, tea, and fertility. Foxes are said to be Inari’s messengers, hence the many statues and representations of them in this shrine. One of the oldest shrines in Kyoto,the Fushimi Inari Shrine is the first Inari shrine, as it dates back to the early 8th century AD, predating the arrival of Buddhism in Japan and the establishment of Kyoto as the nation’s capital. Surrounded by lush mountain greenery in summer, flaming leaves in autumn, and snow-spotted ground in winter, the majestic stone foxes look almost lifelike.

Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Watch out for: the variety of fox statues

5. The samurai statues at Maruyama Park

Park

You may have heard of Maruyama Park, Kyoto’s most famous place for seeing the city’s beautiful cherry blossom trees. But a less well known aspect of the park is the bronze statue of two samurai, erected in honour of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro. These two samurai activists were assassinated in Kyoto in the 19th century, whilst opposing the Tokugawa shogunate’s feudal rule. As visionaries who dreamed of an equal society free from the limitations of a feudal government, Ryoma and Shintaro are now honoured as martyrs.

Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Watch out for: the details of the sculpture

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.