Hate to sound harsh, but, in my understanding, no-tripod is a common knowledge among Japanese photographers who shoot well-known Buddhist temples in Kyoto or anywhere else in Japan. In Kyoto, aiming your camera at Buddhist statues (and surrounds) inside the main halls is prohibited even if that's done in a hand-held posture. Tripods are out of use anywhere inside their precincts, since their use is not allowed either, in the first place. Not very sure, but they don't refer to the use of monopods. But I can't bring myself to suggest trying your luck. Ten to one, staff will come around to say you can't do that. A gorillapod needs something to hold onto, you know. So you'd probably need a handrail/pillar/tree branch.., again staff will come holler "Don't do that!" But I hope that doesn't let you down. In other situations, you are Ok photographing in a hand-held posture.

Likewise, in Kyoto, most if not all well-known Shinto shrines don't want you to take pics of stuffs inside the main halls, (or disallow it), let alone bringing in tripods to their precincts. Yet, then again, taking pics of other things is perfectly Ok as long as images you get are all hand-held (and you keep good manners with you).

Btw, am I right to assume you're not a commercial/professional photographer? (If so, then you are refused to aacompany your clients into the said temples/shrines. So you don't see pros there schlepping their tools of trade: reflectors, sun shades, light bulbs, and etc, including their assistants. In case you see some, they are affiliated to/under a contract with the temple/shrine.) If not, don't overthink, just follow the rules. You sure capture nice images, I gather. Yes, that takes patience to do. Golden Pavilion, Ryoanji, terrace of Kiyomizu, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama river gorge and Tenryuji plus the bamboo lane, Heian Shrine garden, Nanzenji, to name just a few, will all be in your photo album.

Lastly, should you take your tripod with you, let me suggest you squeeze in a visit to Nara (a 30-something mins train ride away). The deer park and surrounds are an A-OK place for your photo shoot. No one complains. Yes, photo is Ok of the great buddha statue, but no tripod, no flash.

Have a blast!

In front of Ueno Toshogu Shrine, the Shrine iteself has one that you can fix your camera on.😲

Thank you, all!

What a bummer to know I won't be able to just snap a few quick monopod shots at, say the top of Fushimi Inari, unless I bother someone. (I HATE asking people to take my photo lol.) But I'm glad at least I know to be prepared for this!

Global715255 - You mean there's a fixture or phone stand for solo people like me in front of Ueno Toshogu Shrine? :O Are there other places like this??

You can use a tri or monopod at the top of Fushimi Inari. There is usually nobody around once you pass the observatory spot. They don't prohibit it on the Loop. Just don't use it where it's crowded.

To pick up the point @Slalomer makes in post #2, there is a related issue about taking photos of antiquities and various statues in Japan in that it is in fact prohibited by law. I have only seen one temple (in Kyoto) that actually spelt this out.

As for photos in general, most places will have signs saying if it is acceptable or not (for instance, Honganji in Kyoto photos are allowed, but the requirement is to be respectful and not annoy others - it is an active temple after all.

Most of the prohibitions against tripods are a crowd issue, and even early in the morning, there will be people around. It is simply annoying to have someone block a path or assume their photo is more important than someone else visiting a sacred place or a place of worship. While the OP is obvious concious of this and aiming to be respectful, lots of others are not.

Many of the popular attractions get very crowded these days which is why tripods aren't allowed. I recall seeing many of such signs.

I used to carry a tripod around (got busted inside St. Peter's Basilica ages ago) so I know exactly what you wanted to achieve. You can still use one at many scenic places or uncrowded streets. Still, please be considerate to others.

Wisteria gardens prohibit tripod use to protect tree root. I've also seen notice in some botanical gardens.

I guess some are quite pedantic/dead-set about their non-tripod rule than others. Ok, let me fess up here. On one morning of mid-Nov 2022, I drove to Nanzenji early in the morning to hunt for gorgeous red leaves, then hitting first to the area known as suirokaku/aqueduct since I know there was probably no one around. (But it was around time visitors began to come though the big sanmon gate in dribs and drabs.)

I then took out my tripod from the case, looking around, then fertively setting it up on the ground beneath the aqueduct, knowing clouds often follow sunshine if you follow my drift. Scarcely had I put my finger on the lens ring to focus on a beauty, I got a word of caution from someone in his work attire, like: No tripod! 20meters away from me was a man towing his bike, probably a gardener, an embarrassing moment. I knew better than to argue since I was in the temple precinct. I just nodded, then began to encase my gear with good grace. That's why the photos in my (2022 nanzenji) album were not as good as I wanted. ;-)

Contrary to that above, in the fall of 2019 I was able to use my tripod in Manyo Botanical Garden, Nara Deer Park, which use is always a big no-no there. Yes, I tried my luck asking for permission at the ticket booth. The lady inside said, though a bit reluctantly, like: we have few visitors now, so, "mah eedeh sho." When I was about to set up my tripod on the lakeside, a couple of overseas vitiors caught my eye, one of whom was feeding a school of kois/carp with a bagful of sugar-coated chocolate balls! oh my, I gotta stop her doing that! My doublestandard-ness aside, I said gently: Signpost says no feeding, though bothered a tad bit by my guilty conscience. Yet at least, photographing doesn't poison the creatures here...

Just want to say that I love your little stories, Slalomer. Always enjoyable to read!