Kodai-ji temple
If you visit Kiyomizu-dera temple and then go down Sannen-zaka, Ninen-zaka and Nene-no-michi road to Yasaka-jinja shrine, it may be a good idea to drop by Kodai-ji temple.
The main attraction of the Rinzai Buddhist Sect temple would be a small garden with two ponds, and a couple of tea ceremony houses that are National Important Cultural Properties. If you were interested in tea ceremony houses or tea ceremony, this temple might be of a good choice. They also have a simple Karesansui garden in which they display non-traditional arts during limited period in Spring, Summer and Autumn.
History of Kodai-ji
After an actual ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) died, his wife Nene established this temple in 1606 to pray for the soul of her late husband. In 1624, the year when Nene passed away, they named Priest Sanko of Ken'nin-ji the founder of the temple and named the temple Kodai-ji after her Buddhist name "Kodai-in". The temple originally was grandeur but it suffered frequent fires after 1789 and now we can see only several of original buildings such as Kaisan-do, tea ceremony houses, etc. Those are important cultural properties of Japan.
(This information is based on a leaflet that the temple provide together
with a ticket.)
How to get to Kodai-ji
City Bus No. 206 from Kyoto Station or No 207 from Shijo-Kawaramachi to Higashiyama-Yasui bus stop and five minute walk toward East.
20 minutes from Kiyomizu-dera temple or 5 minutes from Yasaka-jinja shrine on foot.
Hours and Admission
9:00-17:00
All except those listed below: 600 yen.
Junior High School Students (7th to 9th graders) and High school students:
250 yen.
Elementary school children (1st to 6th graders) and younger:
free.
Normally, children must be accompanied by adults. Ask the temple beforehand
if unaccompanied children wish to visit the temple.
Photos / Pictures
Click on a photo for a larger image.
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| Stone steps named Daidokoro-zaka that connects Nene-no-michi road and Kodai-ji. August 25, 2003 |
Kuri at night. They illuminate buildings and gardens during limited periods
of year. March 20, 2005 |
Iho-an, a tea ceremony house that has a unique large round window. August 22, 2007 |
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| In the middle of the photo is Kaisan-do hall, on the left is Kangetsu-dai.
On the right of Kaisan-do, the roof of Otamaya hall is seen. All of them
are National Important Cultural Properties. The garden was said to be laid
out by Kobori Enshu. August 22, 2007 |
Kangetsu-dai. August 22, 2007 |
Engetsu-chi pond. The building on the left is Kita-Shoin. August 22, 2007 |
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| Kaisan-do and Garyo-chi pond. On the foreground is a snow patch. January 1, 2005 |
A gate. August 22, 2007 |
Garyo-ro, or "Lying dragon corridor" that connects Kaisan-do
and Otamaya. November 4, 2000 |
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| The inside of Garyo-ro. January 1, 2005 |
Otamaya, that was raised to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife Nene. On the
roof is snow, though the snow on the sunny side is gone. January 1, 2005 |
Otamaya at night. March 20, 2005 |
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| Otamaya hall that was built in the year 1605. Wooden statues of Hideyoshi
and Nene as well as a Buddhist image called Daizuigu-Bosatsu are enshrined
in this building. August 22, 2007 |
Kasa-tei on the left and Shigure-tei on the right are designed to meet
the taste of Sen no Rikyu and National Important Cultural Properties. These
tea ceremony houses are on the high ground of the precinct. August 25, 2003 |
Shigure-tei, or Shower Hut, a unique two storied tea ceremony house. August 22, 2007 |
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| Kasa-tei, or Umbrella Hut. August 22, 2007 |
The ceiling of Kasa-tei, or Umbrella Hut. This building is so called because
the ceiling looks like an inside of an Umbrella. August 25, 2003 |
Inside of Kasa-tei. August 25, 2003 |
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| Bamboos illuminated at night. March 20, 2005 |
Stairs in bamboo grove. November 4, 2000 |
A dragon, a temporary display for spring, on white sand of Kodai-ji's karesansui
garden that is called Hashin-tei. It is made of roof tiles. Ryozen Kan'non
is seen on the upper left of the picture. April 14, 2001 |
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| Chokushi-mon at night. March 20, 2005 |
Hashin-tei, a karesansui garden in front of Hojo. August 22, 2007 |
Ryozen-Kannon looked from Hojo. August 22, 2007 |