Category: Recommendation

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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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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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Shisendo Temple（詩仙堂）

Shisendo Temple, located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, is the place where Ishikawa Jozan, a literary figure of the Edo period and former retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu, lived in seclusion. It is a Soto Zen temple where the sound of a shishi-odoshi (deer scarer) quietly resonates, and is famous for its space adorned with portraits of Chinese poets.
I have also used a photo of the entrance to Shisendo Temple on the cover of this blog.

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Honen-in Temple（法然院）

Honen-in Temple is a Jodo sect mountain temple located along the Philosopher’s Path in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City.　It is a reconstruction of the hermitage where Honen Shonin and his disciples once performed the Six-Time Praise.　The temple gate of Honen-in has a thatched roof and is surrounded by tranquil, lush greenery, creating a very picturesque atmosphere.

 

 

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