Tofuku-ji Temple is the fourth largest temple in Kyoto Gozan, with the highlight of its magnificent Garan (grand Buddhist temple) and four different gardens. It is also very famous for the colored leaves that can be seen from the bridge connecting the Main Hall and Kaisen-do, and is visited by many tourists from November to early December, the time of year that the leaves turn color.
About Kyoto Tofuku-ji Temple
Tofuku-ji Temple was built in the second year of the Katei Period (1236) by Regent KUJO Michi-ie for the sake of his family’s prestige, and was founded by monk ENNI Ben-en. At that time, it was named "Tofuku-ji", taking the charater representing "East (To)" from Todai-ji and the character representing “fortune (fuku)" from Nara’s Kofuku-ji. There are 25 temples in the precinct, including the main hall, square, and temple halls. The Sanmon Gate, which was hit by a fire and rebuilt during the Muromachi period, is the oldest in Japan, the largest in Shinshu, and its extravagant paintings are drawn on the upper floor of the tower and designated as a national treasure.
Gardens at Tofuku-ji Temple
Tofuku-ji has four different gardens in the north, southeast, and west. The east garden is arranged in the image of the night sky with the stone pillars depicting Big Dipper constellation and the ground pattern and the hedges depicting the Milky Way. The south garden depicts the mountain and the sea with four boulders and white sand, and the whirlpool shows rough. The north garden is a checkered pattern of stones and bushes, and the west garden is a checkered pattern of neatly pruned Satsuki flowers and sand.
Tofuku-ji Temple Autumn Views
Tsutenbashi, a bridge between Hojou (Abbott’s Chamber) and Kaisan-do (Founder’s Hall), is known as a famous place for colored leaves. There are about 2000 colored leaves centered on the maple tree, and the Sengyokukan valley that extends below is a must-see. It looks like a carpet of maple leaves.
Access to Tofuku-ji Temple
The nearest station to Tofuku-ji is Keihan or JR Tofuku-ji station. It is about 10 minutes on foot from each station.
When accessing from Kyoto Station, take Kyoto City Bus Route 88 or 208 for about 15 minutes, and get off at Tofukuji, about 10 minutes on foot. About 8 minutes on foot from Keihan Railway Toba Kaido Station
Visiting hours depend on the time of year; 9:00-16:30 (reception closes at 16:00) from April to the end of October, and from 9:00-16:00 (reception closes at 15:30) from the first Sunday in December to the end of March. In addition, Tsutenbashi, the Founder’s Hall and Tofuku-ji Honbo Garden can be visited throughout the year, and the admission fee is 400 yen for Toutenbashi Kaizen-do, and 400 yen for country-designated scenic spot Tofuku-ji Temple as well.
Spot information
Spot name: Tofukuji Temple
- Street address: 15-778 Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, 605-0981
- Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Keihan JR "Tofuku-ji" station
Comments