Category: English

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Kōrin-in Temple ( Daitoku-ji Temple)　（興臨院　大徳寺）

Kōrin-in is one of the sub-temples of Daitoku-ji Temple, a Rinzai Zen temple located in Kita-ku, Kyoto.
It was founded approximately 500 years ago by Hatakeyama Yoshisō,
the governor of Noto (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture),
and its name, Kōrin-in, was derived from his posthumous Buddhist name.
It features a magnificent Momoyama-style stone garden restored by Nakane Kinsaku,
a landscape architect sometimes called the “Showa-era Kobori Enshū,” as well as the tea house “Kankyo-tei.”
Special viewings are available from September 5th to 27th and from October 3rd to December 15th, 2026.

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Rozan-ji Temple　（廬山寺）

Rozan-ji Temple is located on Teramachi Street in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, east of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
It is said to be the site of Murasaki Shikibu’s residence and where “The Tale of Genji” was written.
The garden of the main hall is called “Genji’s Garden,” a beautiful dry landscape garden with a vivid contrast of white sand and moss.
From the beginning of June to the beginning of September, the bellflowers are in full bloom.
A stone monument marking the “site of Murasaki Shikibu’s residence” stands here.
It is one of the places where you can appreciate the tranquility of Kyoto.

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Mt. Daimonji-yama　（大文字山）

Kyoto has a tradition called Gozan no Okuribi (Five Mountains Bonfire), a ceremony held during the Obon festival to send off ancestors.
One of the mountains is Mt. Daimonji-yama, which is also a hiking trail.
Near the summit are the bonfire sites used for the Okuribi.
You can enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto City and breathe in quiet, refreshing air.

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Former Kyoto Prefectural Government Building（旧京都府庁舎）

The former Kyoto Prefectural Government building was where the Kyoto Shugoshoku (Kyoto Guardian) of the shogunate was located during the late Edo period. In 1885, the Kyoto Prefectural Government relocated there from Nijo Castle. Even today, visitors can see the former governor’s office, the former assembly hall, and the garden surrounding the building.
The garden is said to have been designed by the seventh generation Jihei Ogawa.

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Kennin-ji Temple（建仁寺）

Kennin-ji Temple is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and the head temple of the Kennin-ji schhol of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.
It was founded in 1202 (Kennin 2) by Eisai, who studied Zen in Song Dynasty China.
The temple is famous for its painting of the Wind God and Thunder God (National Treasure) by Tawaraya Sōtatsu.
Free Zen meditation experiences are also available.
Gion Hanamikoji Street, the approach to Kenninji Temple, is quite crowded both day and night, but early morning is definitely the best time to visit.

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