[2025 Kyoto Attraction] Travel Guide for Chishakuin (Updated Apr)

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In 2024, the autumn foliage at Chishaku-in Temple has reached its peak once again. This is a hidden gem for viewing autumn leaves that I almost don't want to share. While Kyoto's autumn tourist season is usually very crowded, Chishaku-in Temple offers a relatively relaxed atmosphere for enjoying the autumn foliage. Additionally, there are many attractions such as the famous garden and the treasure hall, making it a highly recommended spot. Located close to Kyoto Station, there are many other tourist spots nearby. Be sure to visit Chishaku-in Temple during your Kyoto autumn foliage tour. [Access] About a 5-minute walk from Keihan Shichijo Station [Admission Fee] Famous Garden: General 500 yen [Recommended Nearby Spots] 📍Spot Name: Tofuku-ji Temple 📍Spot Name: Sanjusangen-do Temple 📍Spot Name: Kyoto National Museum 📍Spot Name: Toyokuni Shrine

During the autumn sightseeing season, Kyoto is expected to be very crowded everywhere, but we will introduce you to a hidden spot for touring Kyoto's shrines and temples! We recommend Chishaku-in, the head temple of the Shingon sect Chizan school! Chishaku-in is located in Higashiyama Shichijo, about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station. Nearby are famous tourist spots such as Sanjusangendo and Tofukuji Temple, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple is within walking distance. The treasure museum and other facilities were renovated in 2023, but the scenic gardens are truly wonderful, and in the treasure museum, some of the approximately 80,000 pieces stored in Chishaku-in Temple, including the national treasure wall paintings by Hasegawa Tohaku, are displayed according to the season. You can also enjoy the seasonal scenery, such as cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, bellflowers, and autumn leaves in spring. You are sure to have a relaxing time in the recommended scenic gardens. Kyoto is very crowded everywhere during the sightseeing season, but this is a hidden spot where you can visit without worrying about queues. [Recommended nearby spots] ⬜ Sanjusangendo ⬜ Tofukuji Temple ⬜ Shinkumano Shrine ⬜ Sennyuji Temple ⬜ Kyoto National Museum ⬜ Toyokuni Shrine [Access] 10 minute walk from Keihan Shichijo Station 3 minute walk from Higashiyama Shichijo City Bus [Admission Fee] Treasure Museum: 500 yen Scenic Garden: 500 yen #Shrine and Temple Tour#Kyoto #Kyoto Sightseeing#Kyoto Trip #Kyoto Trip#Kyoto Wandering #trip #kyototrip #kyototravel

💫Recommended Points of Chishaku-in History and Culture Chishaku-in is known as the head temple of the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism, with about 3,000 branch temples. Originally, it was part of Negoro-ji in Kishu (now Wakayama Prefecture), but it was reestablished in its current location with donations from Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period, following the establishment of Shoun-ji by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to mourn for his beloved son Tsurumatsu. Scenic Garden The scenic garden of Chishaku-in was originally created during the era of Shoun-ji, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and later restored by the seventh head priest of Chishaku-in, Uncho Sojo. This garden is modeled after Mount Lu, a sacred Buddhist site in China, and boasts the greatest beauty in Higashiyama. Lodging and Vegetarian Cuisine Anyone can stay at the lodging facilities of Chishaku-in Kaikan. Guests can participate in the morning services and receive guided tours of the gardens and barrier paintings by monks. Additionally, at the restaurant 'Chishaku-in Saryo Kikyo' within Chishaku-in, you can enjoy traditional vegetarian cuisine. 🕕Visiting Information Chishaku-in is open for visitors from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with an admission fee of 500 yen for adults to view the scenic garden and the treasure hall. Admission is free for children under elementary school age and for those with a disability pass. 🚍Access Chishaku-in is located about a 10-minute bus ride from JR Kyoto Station, or about a 10-minute walk from Keihan Shichijo Station, making access very convenient. 📍Address 〒605-0951 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Higashiyama-ku, Higashioji Shichijo sagaru, Higashikawaramachi 964 🚃Access - About a 10-minute bus ride from JR Kyoto Station, get off at 'Higashiyama Shichijo' - About a 10-minute walk from Keihan Main Line 'Shichijo Station'

#Japan and Korea Spring Good Places When you step into Chishaku-in Temple in Kyoto, you can personally experience an unprecedented peaceful Zen and visual shock. This ancient Zen temple, which has stood for hundreds of years, seems to have integrated the beauty of Japanese architecture and the elegance of the garden, forming a poetic Zen landscape. Walking into the courtyard along the secluded cobblestone path, the first thing that catches your eye is the famous wandering dry landscape stone garden. There was an open space covered with fine sand, dotted with dozens of huge cone-shaped rocks, like an abstract painting full of Zen artistic conception. What I most desire is to sit in the surrounding corridors and appreciate the tranquil and pleasant beauty of the dry landscape.

The so-called Shukubo is to live in the temple, allowing you to experience the tranquility in the holy land. Historically, long-distance monks would rest or stay in places known as Shukubo. Seeing more and more people needing accommodation after long-distance travel, Shukubo began to open its doors to ordinary worshippers and tourists. Now, Japanese Shukubo has become a very mainstream way of travel, and many tourists like to live in different temples to experience various styles of Shukubo. The courtyard of Chishakuin is one of the famous courtyards in Kyoto. It is said to be built in imitation of China's Lushan. The beauty of the four seasons is pleasing to the eye. Chishakuin was built in 1601 and is the head temple of the Shingon sect Chizan school. There are 3,000 branch temples, originating from the Kishu Negoroji Temple founded during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Every temple's Shukubo will have its unique activities. Some will have Zen meditation, sitting quietly, only listening to the sound of birds and the friction of leaves, eliminating daily distractions. Many monks in the temple will teach how to meditate, which is easy to get started. There are also morning classes, chanting in the main hall and in front of the Buddha statue, starting a beautiful new day. The morning class at Chishakuin is about 5:40 gathering in the hall, and the monks will lead everyone to the main hall for chanting, which lasts about an hour. After the chanting, everyone will be given a "Omamori" of Chishakuin. The food in the temple is actually quite reliable, and there is no requirement for everyone to be vegetarian. The dinner at Chishakuin is basically a Kyoto-style meal.

The plum blossoms at Chishakuin are blooming beautifully. The clear sky is perfect for viewing, and you can also see the hurried figures of the monks coming and going after chanting in the hall. It's really a unique experience, where the feeling of movement is also a sense of stillness.