For those of you planning to visit Kyoto, if you have some free time at Kyoto Station, wouldn't it be nice to put on a kimono and take some photos that have a Kyoto feel to them? Kyoto is synonymous with temples and shrines. Here are three recommended spots around Kyoto Station where you can take some photogenic photos without having to travel more than 15 minutes.

●5 minutes walk from Kyoto Station! [Higashi Honganji Temple]

This temple is called "Higashi Honganji" or "O-Higashi-san" to distinguish it from temples of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect (commonly known as "Onishi-san" or "Nishi Honganji").

The biggest attraction of Higashi Honganji Temple is, without a doubt, the Goeido Hall. The Goeido Hall of Higashi Honganji Temple is 76 meters wide, 58 meters deep, and 38 meters high, and is famous as the largest wooden Buddhist temple building in the world. It takes 30 minutes per person to get dressed at Kyoto Station, and 10 minutes round trip, so you can see the whole temple in about an hour. You'll look great in a kimono and be sure to take some impressive photos of Higashi Honganji Temple, so be sure to check it out.

●15 minutes walk from Kyoto Station! [Toji Temple]

It takes about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit to reach Kyoogokokuji Temple (Toji Temple), a World Heritage Site. This temple, the head temple of the Toji Shingon sect, is home to the five-story pagoda, a national treasure that is the tallest in Japan, and it may be the first thing you see. It is also lit up at night, making for a vibrant sight. In fact, this pagoda has burned down four times, both due to lightning and suspicious fires, and the current pagoda is the fifth generation. The interior is usually closed to the public, but there are rare times when it is open and open for viewing. Don't miss it.

●5 minutes by train from Kyoto Station! [Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine]

Finally, after getting dressed, you can take photos and return to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in an hour. The nearest Inari Station is a 5-minute ride on the JR Nara Line. Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is just a short walk from the station, so why not drop by to see the impressive Senbon Torii gates?

What did you think?

If you are going to Kyoto but don't have much time to do sightseeing, there are many famous sightseeing spots around Kyoto Station that you can easily enjoy. You can change into a kimono at the VASARA Kyoto Station Kimono Rental Store, which has a dressing room inside Kyoto Station, and go out in a kimono to get even more excited. Please feel free to enjoy sightseeing around Kyoto Station during your trip or between transfers.