Category: Early summer
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Jojakkoji Temple Autumn
Jojakkoji Temple is a Buddhist temple located in the scenic Saga district, not far from famous Arashiyama area. It is on a forested Ogurayama mountainside, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The temple is famous for its beautiful autumn colors, making it a popular destination for tourists during the autumn season. Click here to…
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Jingoji Temple
Jingoji Temple, nestled in the serene mountains of northwestern Kyoto, is a hidden gem that offers visitors a profound glimpse into Japan’s rich Buddhist heritage. This ancient temple, founded in the 8th century, is a testament to the enduring spiritual traditions of Kyoto and provides a tranquil escape from the bustling city center. Jingoji Official…
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Saimyoji Temple
Saimyoji Temple, located in the Takao area of Kyoto, is a hidden gem that offers visitors a serene retreat into nature and history. This ancient temple, founded in the early 9th century, is one of the three famous temples in the Takao region, collectively known as “Sanbi”. Temple’s official WEB site Historical Significance Saimyoji Temple…
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Kozanji Temple
Kozanji Temple (officially Kosanji Temple), located in the Togano area of Kyoto, is a Shingon Buddhist temple. It was originally founded in 774 during the late Heian period. It was originally a sub-temple of Jingoji Temple. In 1206, Emperor Go-Toba granted the temple grounds to the monk Myoe, who revived it under the name Kosanji.…
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Senkoji Temple
Senkoji Temple is a small temple located in Arashiyama, Kyoto. It is located across the Katsura River from the popular Arashiyama area. A 20-minute walk along the river across the Togetsukyo Bridge brings you to Senkoji Temple. Senkoji Temple was built by Suminokura Ryoi, a wealthy merchant of the Edo period. He relocated Senkoji Temple,…
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Gansenji Joruriji Hiking
Gansenji Joruriji Hiking is one of the best light hikes that can be done as a day trip from Kyoto. Both Gansenji Temple and Joruriji Temple are located in the mountains of Kizugawa City, near Nara, and offer important cultural assets and national treasures, including buildings and Buddhist statues dating from the Heian and Kamakura…
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Okochi Sanso Garden
As you head west through the bamboo forest of Arashiyama, you will come to the Ogura mountain. There you will find the entrance to Okochi Sanso Garden. Kyoto City Official Travel Guide Okochi Sanso Garden is a mountain villa garden located in Saga. It was painstakingly created over a 30-year period by renowned Showa-era actor…
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Tenju-an Temple
Tenju-an Temple, a sub-temple of Nanzenji Temple, is a historic Zen temple in the Sakyo Ward of Kyoto City. It belongs to the Rinzai sect’s Nanzen-ji branch. The temple was founded in 1339 during the early Northern and Southern Courts (Nanbokucho) period. It was established by Kokan Shiren, the 15th abbot of Nanzenji, with the…
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Joruriji Temple
Joruriji Temple, also known as Joruri Temple, is a historic and culturally significant temple located in the Kizugawa City of Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is not in the Kyoto City, and it takes about 2 hours by public transport. Joruriji Temple is famous for its beautiful gardens, ancient structures, and the rich cultural heritage it…
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Gansenji Temple
Gansenji Temple: A Tranquil Sanctuary Steeped in History and Culture Nestled in the picturesque hills of Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, Gansenji Temple is a serene sanctuary surrounded by beautiful nature. Renowned for its exquisite architecture, stunning gardens, and valuable cultural treasures, this temple offers visitors a profound and moving experience. This article delves into the…
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Koetsuji Temple
Koetsuji Temple is a must-visit for anyone exploring Kyoto. Its blend of art, nature, and tranquility offers a unique experience. Plan a visit in autumn for the best views. Enjoy the serene beauty and rich history of this hidden Kyoto treasure. Located in Kyoto, Koetsuji Temple is a hidden gem. This serene temple offers a…
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Joshoji Temple
Joshoji Temple offers a serene escape from the bustling city of Kyoto. Its connection to Yoshino Tayu adds historical depth and cultural significance. Whether you’re visiting for the cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, or just a peaceful retreat, Joshoji is a hidden gem worth exploring. Temple’s official WEB site Introduction Kyoto, Japan, is known for its…
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Narabigaoka (双ヶ丘)
Narabigaoka, a scenic hill in Kyoto’s Ukyo-ku. Explore historic trails with a one-hour hike, revealing panoramic views of Ninnaji Temple. Immerse in nature and history at this national scenic beauty spot. It also boasts 24 burial mounds, forming the burial mound complex. Narabigaoka is a hill in Omuro, Kyoto City. It is named after the…
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Kyushoin Temple (久昌院), Kenninji
Kyushoin Temple is one of the sub-temples of Kenninji Temple and is located in the precincts of Kenninji Temple. It is the family temple of the Okudaira clan, founded in 1608 by Nobumasa Okudaira. He was the first lord of the Kano Han. It is said that Kyushoin was named after Nobumasa’s Buddhist name. This…
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88 sacred temples Pilgrimage in Omuro (御室八十八ヶ所霊場)
Behind the Ninnaji Temple, there is a mountain path called Omurojojusan, which is dotted with 88 small Buddhist temples. Ninnaji Temple manages this route. In the Edo period (1603-1868), it was difficult to visit the 88 sacred sites on Shikoku. So in 1827, the 29th Monk of Ninnaji Temple made a request to bring back…
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Obai-in temple (黄梅院), Daitokuji
Obai-in temple’s gardens are must see if you have chance. This temple is a real hidden gem in Kyoto. Oda Nobunaga built Obai-an in 1562 as a memorial service for his father, Oda Nobuhide. And it is one of the sub-temples of Daitokuji Temple. After Nobunaga’s sudden death due to the Honnouji Incident, Hideyoshi Hashiba…
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Hosenin Temple (宝泉院) in Ohara
Hosenin temple is a temple of the Tendai sect in Ohara. Together with the Jikkoin Temple, it is a sub-temple of the Shorinin Temple. As visitors enter through the temple gate, they see before them a temple’s symbol, a 700-year-old goyomatsu (five-leaf pine tree). Because it is a large and precious goyomatsu tree, “Hosenin no…
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Jakkoin Temple (寂光院) in Ohara
Jakkoin Temple in Ohara is a nunnery of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. This is the temple where Kenreimonin, daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, spent the rest of her life. History of Jakkoin Temple In 594 Prince Shotoku built the temple to mourn the loss of his father, Emperor Yomei. The first abbot was Tamateru…
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Sanzenin Temple (三千院) in Ohara
Sanzenin Temple was originally built by Saicho during the Enryaku era (782-806) in the Toto Minamidani (東塔南谷) on Mt. Hiei. Since the late Heian period, the temple has been a monzeki, with the prince and imperial family serving as abbots. The location of the temple has moved several times over time, from within Hieizan to…
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Takiguchidera Temple (滝口寺)
Takiguchidera Temple is a very small temple next to Gioji Temple in Saga area. This temple began as the Oujo-in temple in the Heian period. The temple was abandoned during the Meiji period due to the abolition of Buddhism. It was rebuilt together with Gioji Temple in the Showa period. This temple is famous for…
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Shorenin Monzeki (青蓮院門跡)
Shorenin Monzeki is one of the three monzeki of Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei (other two is Sanzen-in and Myoho-in). It is now one of the five Kyoto Monzeki of the Tendai sect. It originated from Shorenbo, a monk’s abode on Mt. Hiei, which at that time was the residence of Saicho, Ennin, and other…
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Shisendo Jozanji (詩仙堂丈山寺)
Shisendo is a branch temple of Eiheiji Temple of the Soto sect of Buddhism, where Ishikawa Jozan lived until his death in 1672 at the age of 90. Ishikawa participated in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. And quit the warrior’s life after the Summer Battle of Osaka in 1614. Afterwards, Ishikawa wrote poems on…
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Shoden Eigen-in Temple (正伝永源院)
Shoden Eigen-in is a sub-temple of Kenninji Temple, the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. In the Kamakura period, when the temple was founded, there were two temples, Shoden-in and Eigen-an. However, during the confusion caused by the abolition of Buddhism in the Meiji period (1868-1912), Eigen-an was unfortunately uninhabited and was immediately…
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Ryosoku-in Temple (両足院)
Ryosoku-in is a temple of the Kenninji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism and a sub-temple of Kenninji Temple. The principal image of the temple is the Amida Nyorai. It was built in the Kamakura period as Chisokuin Temple, founded by Zen priest Ryuzan Tokken. After a fire during the Tenmon period (1532 – 1555), the…
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Kenninji Temple (建仁寺)
When you visit Kenninji Temple, please sit on tatami mat and see the tranquil Choontei Garden. You can simply relax or meditate as time goes by. In 1202, Minamoto no Yoriie, the second shogun of the Kamakura period, donated the temple area and founded the Kenninji Temple. Eisai designed the temple, modeling it after Hyakjōzan…
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Torin-in Temple (Myoshinji) 東林院
You can enjoy Shojin Ryori (zen vegetarian meals) in Torin-in Temple. Torin-in Temple is one of the sub-temples of Myoshinji Temple and is located on the east side of the temple grounds. The temple is usually closed to the public, but you can visit there during some seasonal festivals and on lunch events. The main…
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Toji-in Temple (等持院)
History Toji-in Temple is a temple of the Tenryuji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Although the temple has a long history and is close to Kinkakuji Temple and Ryoanji Temple, it is quiet tourists rarely visit here. Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, invited the monk Muso Kokushi and…
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Manshu-in Temple (曼殊院)
Manshu-in is a monzeki temple located in Ichijodani. From Enkoji Temple, you will pass through a residential area and walk along a path called Manshuin-do (Manshuin Road), which leads to a wooded area. After passing through there, you will see Manshuin Temple. Manshu-in was originally opened by Saicho as a dojo on Mt. Hiei. It…
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Ginkakuji Temple (銀閣寺)
The official name of Ginkakuji Temple is Higashiyama Jishoji Temple, one of the sub-temples of Shokokuji Temple. Ginkakuji is based on Higashiyama-den, a villa built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate. It became a temple after Yoshimasa’s death. Shokokuji Temple Official WEB site (English page) The common name “Ginkaku” (silver pavilion)…
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Honen-in Temple (法然院)
Leaving the Philosopher’s Path before reaching Ginkakuji Temple, visitors will find Honen-in Temple on the east side of the mountain. This temple was founded in 1680, in the early Edo period. The origin of the temple is as follows. Emperor Go-Toba was the one who later caused the Jokyu Rebellion and was exiled to Oki.…
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Jojakkoji Temple (常寂光寺)
The area around Jojakkoji Temple is quiet as if it were another world. It is just a short walk from Arashiyama, which is always crowded with tourists. Jojakkoji Temple is a Buddhist temple located in the scenic Saga district, not far from famous Arashiyama area. It is on a forested Ogurayama mountainside, offering stunning views…
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Sanboin Temple (三宝院), Daigoji Temple
It’s history Sanboin, the sub-temple, is entered from the side of the Daigoji Temple reception desk. Sanboin was built in 1115 and served as the main temple where the head priest of Daigoji resided. The present facility was developed after Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s cherry blossom viewing in Daigo in 1598. The garden was basically designed by…
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Chishakuin Temple (智積院)
Chishakuin Temple in Kyoto is the head temple of the Chizan School of Shingon Buddhism. Originally it was in Wakayama Prefecture as one of the sub-temples of the Daidenpoin Temple. Later it was rebuilt in Kyoto in 1598 after a war. Garden Chishakuin Temple has a famous pond garden facing the Daishoin (main drawing room).…
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Seiryoji Temple (清凉寺)
Seiryoji Temple, also known as Saga Shakado in Sagano, is a cultural gem awaiting discovery by foreign tourists. Home to the revered Shakyamuni Buddha statue, a national treasure from India, the temple unveils this sacred artifact during special visits. The temple’s origins trace back to Seikaji, the model for Hikaru Genji’s “Saga no Godo” in…
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Gioji Temple (祇王寺)
Gioji Temple, a nunnery in green and tranquility According to the Tale of the Heike and the Genpei Seisuki, Gioji Temple is where Shirabyoshi (dancer) Gio became a nun at the then Saga Oujoin Temple along with his mother Toji and sister Kojo. Taira no Kiyomori once favored her but later treated her coldly. That’s…
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Tofukuji Temple (東福寺)
Tofukuji Temple is the head temple of the Tofukuji School of the Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism, and was completed in 1255. The Sanmon Gate is a National Treasure, and there are many other important cultural properties including the Zendo Hall. Tofukuji official WEB site The Sanmon Gate is the oldest and largest of the…
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Kyutei Omuro (旧邸御室)
Kyutei Omuro, also known as the Omuro Residence, is a historic, traditional Japanese house. It is in the vicinity of the Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto. This house was built in 1937. And it is a Sukiya style architecture with magnificent decorations. Although this building has a short history, it is representative of Kyoto’s architecture and…