Temples & Shrines Prints (980)
Temples and shrines are among the most enduring subjects in Japanese printmaking, reflecting the central role of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japanese cultural life. These sacred structures, often set within landscapes of exceptional natural beauty, offered printmakers subjects that combined architectural precision with atmospheric grandeur. The meisho-e (famous places) tradition naturally featured prominent religious sites — Sensoji temple in Asakusa, Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, the Itsukushima shrine at Miyajima — alongside natural landmarks. Hiroshige's prints of temple precincts in rain, snow, and moonlight established visual conventions that shin-hanga artists would later refine. The torii gate, pagoda silhouette, and temple approach flanked by lanterns became iconic compositional elements. Kawase Hasui made temple and shrine subjects a specialty, producing atmospheric views of sacred sites across Japan that captured the interplay of architecture, nature, and light at specific times of day and seasons. His prints of snow-covered temple roofs and rain-washed shrine paths are among the most recognized images in twentieth-century Japanese art. The subject remains popular with contemporary moku-hanga artists, who continue to find fresh perspectives on Japan's architectural heritage.
Artists Known for Temples & Shrines
Tower of Kibitsu Shrine
Woodblock print
The Imperial Gate of Kaneiji-temple
Woodblock print (oil-based inks)
Torii, Kotondo
Edition of 100, 1980
Woodblock print
The Chion-in Temple Gate
Woodblock print
The Third Cave Temple in Ellora
Woodblock print
Yasaka Pagoda
Woodblock print
Mitate No.44 - Sacred Gateways (Torii)
2001
Mitate No.70 - Pagoda (To)
2004
JICO-BOBATSU Buddha
Woodblock print
AMIDA-NYORAI Buddha
Woodblock print
JICO-BOBATSU Buddha
Woodblock print
AMIDA-NYORAI Buddha
Woodblock print
Pagoda in Spring
Woodblock print
Omuro Pagoda and Cherry Blossoms
Not set
Woodblock print
Kameido Shrine
Woodblock print
Lanters at Gumyo Temple - Gumyo-ji Kannon-do
Woodblock print
Pagoda with the trees
1972
Woodcut in colours
The Atsuta Shrine at Miya Station (Miya eki Atsuta no yashiro), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
Deity in Chinese Dress
1945 L
Woodblock print
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
Woodblock print
Pagoda in Rain, Kyoto
Woodblock print
Kinkakuji Temple - 金閣寺 (1)
Woodblock print
Temple In Nara- LE
Woodblock print
Pagoda
Woodblock print
Pagoda of Honmon Temple, Ikegami
Woodblock print
Pagoda at Ikaruga J
Woodblock print
The Outer Shrine at Ise (Ise Gekû), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
The Light Shines on Fushimi Torii
2016
Woodblock on washi paper
Tsukishimadera Temple in Hyôgo (Hyôgo Tsukishimadera), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
Tsukuda, Sumiyoshi Shrine
Woodblock print
The Kiyomizu Temple in Ueno
Woodblock print
Miyajima Torii and sail boats
Woodblock print
Pagoda At Nikko
Woodblock print
Pagoda in mist
Woodblock print
Torii Gate in Bamboo Grove (1)
Woodblock print
Untitled (torii-kotondo)
1929 (summer)
Woodblock print
Pagoda at Ikegami Hommonji (temple)
Woodblock print
Horyujji Temple, Nara
Woodblock print
Zentsuji Temple in Rain
Woodblock print
Tsushima Shrine- Tsujima
Woodblock print
Shiba Zozoji Temple
Woodblock print
Yomeimon Gate in Nikko, Tosyogu Shrine
Woodblock print
Rain at Katsuga Shrine- Kasuga
Woodblock print
Staircase To Tanigumi Shrine
Woodblock print
Sanno Shrine After Rain
Woodblock print
Zojo Temple Shiba, from the series Twenty Views of Tokyo
Woodblock print
Front Gate of Kasuga Shrine at Nara
Woodblock print
Pagoda and Pond
Woodblock print
Meguro Fudo Shrine, 1931
Woodblock print
Shiba Zöjöji Temple, Tökyö
Woodblock print
Pagoda — 塔
Woodblock print
The Yama Temple, Yamagata
Woodblock print
Miyazaki Genzoji Temple, Saitama — 宮崎？？寺(埼玉県)
Woodblock print
Village with torii gate and lantern
Woodblock print
May rain at the Sanno Temple - Samidare furu sanno
Woodblock print
Zôjô-ji Temple in Shiba (Shiba Zôjô-ji), from the series Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tôkyô nijûkei)
Woodblock print
Tennô-ji Temple in Osaka (Ôsaka Tennô-ji), from the series Souvenirs of Travel III (Tabi miyage dai sanshû)
Woodblock print
Shôfuku-ji Temple in Nagasaki (Nagasaki Shôfuku-ji), from the series Selected Views of Japan (Nihon fûkei senshû)
Woodblock print
Slope of Senkô-ji Temple in Onomichi (Onomichi Senkô-ji no saka), from the series Selected Views of Japan (Nihon fûkei senshû)
Woodblock print
Tamon-ji Temple at Hamahagi, Awa Province (Bôshû Hamahagi Tamon-ji)
Woodblock print
Related Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Temples and shrines are among the most enduring subjects in Japanese printmaking, reflecting the central role of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japanese cultural life. These sacred structures, often set within landscapes of exceptional natural beauty, offered printmakers subjects that combined architectural precision with atmospheric grandeur.
Kawase Hasui, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Kotozuka Eiichi are among the artists most associated with temples & shrines in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.
Hanga currently catalogues 980 prints tagged with temples & shrines, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.