Located one hour north of Kyoto, Sanzenin Temple is the biggest attraction of the village of Ohara. Known as a sacred spot for Pure Land Buddhism, Sanzenin Temple is one of the five Tendai Monzeki temples (temples whose head priests were traditionally members of the imperial family) and has expansive grounds for you to explore and get in tune with nature.
About Sanzenin Temple
Nestling in the mountain village of Ohara, Sanzenin Temple dates back to Heian period, when it was established as a hermitage by the Saicho, the monk who founded the Tendai school of Buddhism in 804.
Being one of the five Tendai Monzeki Temples, many head priests at Sanzenin Temple were actually members of the imperial family throughout the temple’s history.
The temple was called Kajii Monzeki or Nashimoto Monzeki until 1871, when it was officially changed to Sanzenin, a name given by Emperor Reigen, according to documentation held at the Jibutsu-do hall located at the temple.
What to See and Do at Sanzenin Temple
The Sanzenin Temple grounds are actually very expansive and it is easy to spend a full day traveling to the temple and exploring. To start off, all visitors to the temple must travel through the Goten-mon gate, where they will find the information booth to the left and receive pamphlets of the area.
Following the route suggested path by the temple, you can visit the Kyakuden (guest hall) and the Shinden (main house) before arriving to the Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, or Amida Hall.
This hall is believed to have been built by the priest Eshin Sozu in 986 along with his sister as a memorial for their deceased parents. The shape of the hall is unique, as it resembles the hull of a ship in order to have enough space for the Amitabha Trinity, which is a National Treasure.
After enjoying the view at the Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, visitors can admire the Shuheki-en Garden and head towards the Kannon-do and the Sho-Kannon-do. Inside the Kannon-do, is a standing statue of Kannon that is 3-meters tall, with many smaller statues that can be found at Sho-Kannon-do.
Once you are done admiring the halls here, you can continue down to the Jigen Garden and the Ajisai-en which are stunning to see in late spring when the hydrangea plants bloom and bring with them colorful hues of blue and violet.
When you finish here, you can simply walk back to the entrance via the Suzaku-mon Gate. We recommend visiting during either the spring or autumn, as these are the times of year when the moss gardens are complemented with the beautiful colors of the hydrangeas or the fiery colors of the autumn foliage.
Sanzenin Temple Opening Hours and Admission
Sanzenin Temple is open all year round and the opening hours are from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm from March 1st until December 7th. From December 7th until the end of February, it opens at 9:00 am closes at 4:30 pm. Last admission is 30 minutes closing.
Admission costs 700 yen for adults, 400 yen for high school and junior high school students, and 150 yen for primary school students. There is a 100 yen per person discount for groups of 30 or more, off tickets for adults, high school and junior high school students.
How to get to Sanzenin Temple from Kyoto Station
Getting to Sanzenin Temple may seem a little daunting because of how far it is from Kyoto station, but there is no need to worry as the bus to the village where Sanzenin Temple is located is easy to find!
From the Central Gate exit of Kyoto Station, head over to Kyoto Bus Stop C3. From here, take the Route 17 bus for approximately one hour, bound for Ohara. Get off the bus at Ohara bus stop and from there it is a 10 minute-walk to Sanzenin Temple.
Information
- Name: Sanzenin Temple
- Street address: 540 Ohararaikoincho, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto 601-1242
- Access: An hour bus ride via the Route 17 bus to Ohara bus stop from Kyoto Bus stop C3 at Kyoto Station, then a 10-minute walk to Sanzenin Temple
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