The temple's dry garden was designed by Shigemori Mirei, one of Japan's most renowned 20th-century landscape architects. He completed it in 1975, the same year the bright red 33-meter pagoda was added.

The Niomon Gate dates to 1671 and is one of Shido-ji's notable historic structures.

The temple's guardian statues in the Niomon Gate were carved by Unkei, a master sculptor whose works include several National Treasures. His fierce deity figures have guarded the entrance since 1671.

The principal deity statue is revealed to the public only once a year on July 16. This Heian-period figure was carved from a single piece of hinoki cypress over 800 years ago.