Manshu-in temple in Ichijo-ji/Shugaku-in area
Manshu-in has Katsura-Rikyu-like shoin buildings, Daishoin (Hondo) and Koshoin, that are important cultural properties. There are also a couple of good tea-ceremony rooms.
The Tendai-shu Monzeki (please see the note below) temple has also an excellent Karesansui (dry landscape) garden. The designer of the garden is unknown but Ryosho ho-shin'no (1623-1693) most probably participated in laying out. He was a son of Imperial Prince Toshihito (Hachijo-no-Miya), who built Katsura Rikyu.
NOTE: Monzeki is a temple of which the head priest has always been a member of the imperial family or of the nobility.
History of Manshu-in
Priest Saicho (Denkyo-Daishi, 767-822) founded a dojo (a training hall) in Hiei in Enryaku era (782-806) for protecting the nation by Buddhism. This was the beginning of Manshu-in. The temple was moved to Saito of Hiei-zan around the year 950 and called Tobibo. In the early 12th century, the name of the temple was changed to Manshu-in and a branch temple was established in Kitayama area. In the year 1656, Manshu-in was moved to the current site when Ryosho ho-shin'no was the head priest.
How to get to Manshu-in
- 39 minutes from JR Kyoto station to Ichijoji-shimizu-cho on Kyoto City Bus No. 5, then 20 minutes on foot toward the hill.
Hours and Admission
9:00 -17:00
The box office will be closed at 16:30.
All except the following: 600 yen
High school students: 400 yen
Elementary school and junior high school students (1st to 9th graders): 300 yen
Children under school age: free.
Hasso-ken (a tea-ceremony room that is attached to Koshoin): 1000 yen (high school students or older only); reservation through telephone is required.
Photos / Pictures
Click on a photo for a larger image.
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| Approach to Manshu-in temple. April 29, 2008 |
A stone bridge over Benten-ike pond, close to Manshu-in. April 29, 2008 |
Benten-do on the left and Tenman-gu on the right. Tenman-gu is the oldest
among buildings of Manshu-in. April 29, 2008 |
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| Chokushi-mon gate. April 29, 2008 |
Kita-tsuyo-mon, or the north gate. April 29, 2008 |
Kuri. April 29, 2008 |
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| Small Karesansui garden. April 29, 2008 |
A flower. April 29, 2008 |
Fallen leaves in a small garden. November 25, 2002 |
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| Kirishima-tsutsuji, azalea in Karesansui-garden. April 29, 2008 |
400 year old pine tree and a Manshu-in type stone lantern in Karesansui
garden. April 29, 2008 |
Karesansui garden. In the far-right of the photo is a stone bridge and
the white sand is likened to a river. April 29, 2008 |
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| Karesansui garden looked from Daishoin building. November 25, 2002 |
Karesansui garden and Daishoin building. April 29, 2008 |
Another stone bridge. A bigger stone behind the bridge is likened to a
waterfall. April 29, 2008 |
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| Karesansui garden April 29, 2008 |
Karesansui garden. White sand in the foreground is likened to the sea. April 29, 2008 |
Fallen leaves looked from a room of Koshoin. November 25, 2002 |