Dec. 20, 2021 UPDATE
Toji-in Temple - 等持院 -
Traveler Friendly
At the reception, they’re able to speak some simple English.
Information
Japanese but they have fliers in English.
Languages spoken
Japanese
513 1 8.0 1 reviews
Dec. 20, 2021 UPDATE

Toji-in Temple

- 等持院 -
Traveler Friendly
At the reception, they’re able to speak some simple English.
Information
Japanese but they have fliers in English.
Languages spoken
Japanese
513 1 8.0 1 reviews
Story & Recommendation
See the humorous Daruma painting and enjoy the four seasons of Kyoto at the prestigious garden of Toji-in Temple
Toji-in Temple is in the same popular area where you can also find Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji, and Kinkaku-ji temples. But unlike these temples, Toji-in is located by a back alley, so there are not that many people at the temple, which means that you get to look at it in peace. The most obvious highlight of this temple is its garden, which changes its appearance depending on the season. The two gardens of the temple were designed by the famous Rinzai-sect Zen monk Muso Soseki (1275-1351) and they both have a completely different feel to them. You can also see the humorous Daruma in the hall way of the temple, but please also note the powerful brushwork on it. Compared to the other busier sightseeing spots of this area, it feels like time passes at a slower rate here at Toji-in Temple. If you visit this place, I’m sure you’ll feel soothed by the quietness of the garden and the four seasons of Japan.
1Highlight
The motif for this eastern garden, Shinji-ike, is the Chinese character for heart (心). This garden has a more subdued feeling when compared to a western garden, but in autumn it takes on a vivid look of the autumn leaves.
2Highlight
On the other hand, the western garden of Fuyo-chi is gorgeous. You can sit at the Sho-in drawing room of the temple, look at the beautiful garden, all the while you sip some matcha tea and enjoy a Japanese sweet. (Matcha tea is 500 yen, sencha tea is 300 yen.)
3Good Experiences
Once you pay the entrance fee and enter the temple itself, you get to see this Daruma painting with its bold brushstrokes. The Daruma on the painting is actually Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk who is said to have been the founder of the Chinese Chan style of Buddhism, which later led to the birth of Japanese Zen Buddhism. The painting is vivid and powerful, but you can feel something endearing in the unique facial expression of the monk too.
- Manner & Tips -

Right now the main buildings of the temple are under renovation, but these renovations are expected to be finished by the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. When walking in the garden, be careful not to enter areas you’re not supposed to enter and not to block other people when you’re taking photos. 

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