[2025 Kyoto Attraction] Travel Guide for Myōken-ji Temple (Updated Apr)

Myokenji is one of the four major temples of the Nichiren Sect in Japan, located in the Kamigyo Ward of Kyoto, and was once a temple where Toyotomi Hideyoshi often lived. Even during the peak tourist season in Kyoto, there are few people in Myokenji. The dry landscape garden in the autumn leaves season has become a beautiful painting. Myokenji has a 'Bao Yiqu Shui Pavilion', which is a courtyard for monks to practice. In the center of the courtyard is a water koto cave. When you scoop water and pour it on the stone, you can hear the pleasant sound of flowing water. The breeze blows, the bamboo forest sways, the light and shadow are charming, and you don't want to leave after sitting for a long time. 📍Address: 514 Myokenji-cho, Shinmachi Nishiiri, Teranouchi-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto ⏰Business hours: 10:00~16:00 (open all year round) 📌Transportation: About 30 minutes by bus from Kyoto Station

#cherryblossom25 Myoken-ji is one of Kyoto's most iconic Nichiren Buddhist temples, founded in the early 14th century by the esteemed Nichiren monk Nisshō. Over the course of more than 600 years, this temple has witnessed the historical changes of Kyoto. While other popular attractions like Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji attract crowds, Myōgen-ji remains a serene and tranquil site, preserving its deep connection to Buddhist practices and providing a rare chance to experience true Zen in the heart of the city. ✨ How to Get There? Although conveniently located in central Kyoto, Myoken-ji maintains a quiet and somewhat hidden presence. Here are two simple ways to reach the temple: By Bus: Take the Kyoto City Bus and get off at the "Teranouchi" stop. From there, it’s a 5-minute walk through narrow streets lined with traditional townhouses, giving you a sense of Kyoto's historical charm. 🏘️ By Subway: Ride the Karasuma Line and get off at Imadegawa Station. Exit from Exit 3 and walk about 10 minutes to the temple. Keep an eye out for the black-tiled, white-walled traditional gate to guide you there. 🚇 April Highlights at Myoken-ji 🌸 In April, Myoken-ji Temple offers a quiet but stunning cherry blossom experience, with its century-old weeping cherry tree (shidare-zakura) standing as the centerpiece of the temple's spring scenery. Unlike the crowded cherry blossom spots, the blossoms here exude a serene, restrained beauty, perfectly complementing the temple’s historical architecture. Best Time to Visit: The optimal viewing times are early morning or around 3 PM when the sunlight is softer and more angled, casting beautiful patterns on the temple's ancient structures. 🌞 Zen Experience: If you happen to visit during a Dharma service (often held in mid-April), you can experience the monks chanting, which adds to the sacred atmosphere. The deep, resonant tones of the Nichiren chant combined with the gentle fall of cherry petals create a unique and meditative Zen experience, perfect for quiet reflection. 🕊️ #travel

#cherryblossom25 The century-old weeping cherry tree takes center stage in April. Unlike touristy spots, its blossoms unfold with quiet dignity beside the main hall. Prime viewing: - Early morning or ~3 PM, when slanting sunlight casts petal shadows on ancient wood. If visiting mid-April (during Buddhist ceremonies), linger beneath the eaves to hear monks' resonant sutra chants—a profound harmony with falling sakura, crafting an unforgettable Zen moment.

#cherryblossom25 🌸 Why Myoken-ji? ☆ Steeped in history: With over 700 years of legacy, it’s Kyoto’s oldest Nichiren Buddhist temple. ☆Exclusive night access: During sakura season (late March to mid-April), the temple opens after dark for enchanting illuminated viewing (yozakura). ☆Serenely uncrowded: Escape the tourist bustle and savor the tranquil atmosphere—perfect for unhurried photos and contemplation. ☆Four poetic gardens: The kyokusui(winding stream) garden, bamboo garden, and karesansui (dry landscape) glow under soft lights, blending sakura shadows into living art. ☆Weeping cherry fantasies: Temple-lit shidare-zakura (weeping cherries) cascade like floral waterfalls, draping the grounds in petals.

Founded in 1321 by the eminent monk Nichizō, Myōken-ji Temple became an imperial temple after Emperor Go-Daigo visited to pray for the nation's protection and the prosperity of the imperial family. Even today, members of the imperial family continue to visit. The spacious grounds are rich in natural beauty, allowing visitors to experience the four seasons of Japan: cherry blossoms in spring, lush green maple leaves in early summer, and vibrant autumn foliage. Every spring, the temple grounds are adorned with cherry blossoms, primarily Somei Yoshino, creating a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the solemn and ancient temple buildings. Remarkably, despite its central location in Kyoto, Myōken-ji remains a hidden gem, offering a tranquil escape amidst the bustling city where you can revel in the spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage. The paid area of the temple provides access to a Japanese garden (with red maple trees), the temple altar, Buddhist statues, and some of the temple's collection of calligraphy and paintings. However, for cherry blossom viewing, the free area is more than sufficient. Myōken-ji is also a renowned wedding venue in Japan, where many newlywed couples, dressed in traditional Japanese attire, come to offer prayers and capture memorable photos. The temple is located between Imadegawa and Kuramaguchi stations on the Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line. It's a ten-minute walk from either station. Alternatively, it's a fifteen-minute walk from the northeast exit of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Miao Miaoxian Temple: The heart of Kyoto people is good This visit to Kyoto, mostly take the niche route, smoothly avoiding the crowd, and enjoying the beautiful cherry, it is a journey of meditation. Miaoxian Temple is not particularly famous among tourists, but it is a must-see for cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Legend has it that Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the place to stay in Kyoto, and it was the first Japanese lotus temple in the central part of Kyoto. However, the Miaoxian Temple is not built at the beginning, but it was rebuilt twice because of the fire. This year, Miaoxian Temple has a special light. Its a pity that I arrived in the afternoon. I didnt have time to look at the lights. I checked them on the official website and found that their lights are particularly gentle, except that the lights are different. Outside the other temples, the dry landscape garden is decorated with a variety of colorful paper umbrellas. It is not seen in other temples. / Miaoxian Temple can also be a place to stay. It is a feeling of staying in a temple. I always want to experience it once, but accommodation needs to be reserved in advance. Miaoxian Temple is very big. It takes an hour or so to take a serious walk. There are a lot of cherry trees in the temple. When I went, Luozhong had already lost nearly half of it, so it seems that there is no flower bloom. So beautiful. In the autumn, Miaoxian Temple is also an excellent scenic spot for maples, but it is a pity that I did not come to visit in the fall. I checked the other people's Raiders on the Internet and found that the autumn of Miaoxian Temple is beautiful, it is worth it! There are not many people in the temple. It is already a place away from the tourist area, so you can enjoy the quiet rest of the cherry blossoms. If you want to take pictures, it is also a very good place! There is a whole piece of cherry blossom forest behind the temple, which is quite good! Address: 514/hh, Miyagami-jimaecho, Sapporo-ku, Kyoto City Visit time: 10