Shisen-do temple
PA little less than 10 minutes of walk on a gentle slope from Ichijoji-Sagarimatsu-cho bus stop toward east leads you to a small gate in a bamboo grove. It is the entrance of Shisen-do (the House of Great Poets) temple, a former hermitage of a man of taste and ex-samurai Ishikawa Jozan (1583-1672).
The Soto-shu sect Zen Buddhist temple has a good garden that was laid out by Jozan himself, a talented designer of gardens, on a slope of a foot of Uryu-yama. There is a Shishiodoshi, or Sozu in the garden that was said to be invented by Jozan.
History of Shisen-do
Jozan built a cottage named Ohtotsu-ka (uneven nest) in the year 1641 to spend a secluded life. He displayed poems and portraits of 36 Chinese ancient poets in one of the temples rooms, that is called Shisen-no-ma. This is the reason why this temple is called Shisen-do.
The building was repaired in 1748 and 1967 but keeps its original. In the year 1966, Shisen-do temple became a branch temple of Eihei-ji that is one of two head temples of Soto-shu sect.
NOTE: Jozan used to be a retainer of the first Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu. In the year 1615, he stole a march on the others to attack the enemy castle first and was expelled for violation of military discipline despite of a credit.
How to get to Shisen-do
- 38 minutes from JR Kyoto station to Ichijoji-Sagarimatsu-cho on Kyoto City Bus No. 5, then 10 minutes on foot.
Hours and Admission
Open daily except May 23 that is an anniversary of Jozan's death.
9:00 -17:00
The box office will be closed 16:45.
All except the following: 500 yen
High school students: 400 yen
Elementary school and junior high school students (1st to 9th graders):
200 yen
Children under school age: free.
Photos / Pictures
Click on a photo for a larger image.
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| Omote-mon gate "Shoyudo". April 29, 2008 |
A narrow approach. April 29, 2008 |
A gate "Robaikan". April 29, 2008 |
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| Shogetsuro looked from Robaikan gate. April 29, 2008 |
Tatami room of shoin facing a Karesansui garden. April 29, 2008 |
Small waterfalls called Senmobaku. April 29, 2008 |
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| The building of the temple. April 29, 2008 |
White wisteria. April 29, 2008 |
Zangetsuken April 29, 2008 |
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| Shogetsuro and trimmed azalea November 25, 2002 |
Fallen leaves on trimmed azalea. November 25, 2002 |
The garden of Shisen-do. The blur image in the middle of the picture is
called "shishiodoshi" or "sozu", a simple devise of
bamboo that makes a sound to threaten and drive deers away. Click HERE to see a movie (276KB) of
it November 25, 2002 |
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| Colored leaves in the garden November 25, 2002 |
Plum blossoms of Shisen-do March 31, 2003 |
"Wabisuke" camellia of Shisen-do March 31, 2003 |