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
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Higashi-monzeki Temple, Asakusa
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Kanda Myojin Shrine
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Koromogawa River Below Tenno-ji Temple
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Kuramae Street, Asakusa
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Myoken-ji Temple in Yanagishima
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Nakamise Shops, Asakusa
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Taro Inari Shrine in Asakusa-tanbo
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: The Gardens at Mukojima Akiba Shrine
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: The Moon over Yushima Seido Temple
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Toshogu Shrine, Ueno
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Yushima Tenjin Shrine
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Zenko-ji Temple, Kawaguchi
Woodblock print
Zojoji Temple, Shiba, from
Woodblock print
Evening Bell at Mii Temple (Mii bansho), from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei no uchi)"
c. 1834
Color woodblock print; oban
Kiyomizu Temple, from the series "Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)"
c. 1834
Color woodblock print; oban
Goeido at Chion-In Temple - 知恩院御影堂
Woodblock print
Snow, Moon, and Cherries at Kiyomizu
Woodblock print
Temple and cherry blossoms on a sunny day
Woodblock print
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), from the series "Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)"
c. 1834
Color woodblock print; oban
Temple gate
Woodblock print
Tofuku Temple
Woodblock print
Snow Scene of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
circa 1930-1950
Woodblock print
Tofuku Temple
Woodblock print
Fujisawa: Yugyo Temple (Fujisawa, Yugyoji), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
Prayer (Buddha), Shôwa period, dated 1958
Woodblock print
Tower of Kinkaku-ji Temple
Woodblock print
Asakusa
Woodblock print
Twelve Views of Tokyo: Asakusa
Woodblock print
Brook at Hiyoshi Shrine
Woodblock print
Fushimi Inari shrine
Woodblock print
![Cloudy Day at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [kumoribi]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)" by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/80666b94-49f5-a25f-4092-f5e7828ad48f/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Cloudy Day at Matsue in Izumo Province (Izumo Matsue [kumoribi]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Izumo Matsue [kumoribi]
1924
Color woodblock print; oban
Kasuga Shrine
Woodblock print
Kokedera Temple - 苔寺
Woodblock print
Nigatsu-do Temple and Deer
Woodblock print
NINNAJI TEMPLE-GATE IN SNOW
Woodblock print
No Series Pagoda Of Ninnaji Temple In Snow
Woodblock print
Pagoda of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
Woodblock print
Snowy Temple Garden
Woodblock print
Heian Shrine - Spring
Woodblock print
Kinkakuji, Kyoto
Woodblock print
Kiyomizu Temple - Autumn
Woodblock print
Show at Kinkakuji Temple — 金閣寺の雪
Woodblock print
Twelve Views Of Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Heian Shrine
Woodblock print
Snow at Hie Shrine (Shato no yuki (Hie jinja))
Shato no yuki (Hie jinja
1931
Color woodblock print; oban
Spring Rain at the Gokoku Temple (Harusame (Gokokuji))
Harusame (Gokokuji
April 1932
Color woodblock print
Tenno Temple, Osaka (Osaka Tennōji), from the series Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)
Osaka Tennōji
1927
Color woodblock print
The Pond at Benten Shrine in Shiba (Shiba Benten ike)
Shiba Benten ike
1929
Color woodblock print; oban
Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto
Woodblock print
Performance at Kiyomizu Temple
Woodblock print
A Little Temple Gate
1933
Color woodblock print
Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto
Woodblock print
Yasaka Shrine at Gion in Kyoto
Woodblock print
Kiyomizu Temple
Woodblock print
Diabutsu Temple Gate
1940
Color woodblock print
Ellora, Cave Temple No. 3 (Erora dai sango kutsuin)
Erora dai sango kutsuin
1933
Color woodblock print; oban
Great Temple in Madura (Madeyura no shinden)
Madeyura no shinden
1931
Color woodblock print; oban
Great Temple in Madurai
1931
Color woodblock print
In a Temple Yard, from the series "Eight Views of Cherry Blossoms"
1935
Color woodblock print
Full moon view at Kiyomize Temple
Not set
Woodblock print
Gion Hasaka Temple Torii Gate — 祇園八坂鳥居前
Not set
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.