Daitoku-ji, Kyoto: Sub-Temples, Daisen-in and How to Visit

Daitoku-ji is a large Rinzai Zen temple complex in Kita Ward, in northern Kyoto. Its own website lists two branch temples and 20 sub-temples, each with its own buildings, gardens and works of art. Kyoto's tourism site compares it to a small village. The sub-temple with the most complete official visitor information is Daisen-in, which has its own site and is the focus of this guide.

When to Go

Daisen-in is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. all year with no closing days, according to its own site. The site says hours can change for special occasions and points to a calendar on its home page.

Daitoku-ji's main site gives no visiting hours or admission for the main complex, and it does not say which buildings can be entered. Each sub-temple sets its own opening days, hours and fees, so check before you travel.

Practical Information

Address: 53 Murasakino Daitokuji-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto. The temple's phone number is 075-491-0019.
Daisen-in hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., all year, every day. Hours may change on special days, so check its calendar.
Daisen-in admission: adults ¥500, children from elementary to junior high ¥300, matcha ¥500.
Getting there: from Kyoto Station, city buses 204 and 206 stop at Daitokuji-mae, according to Daitoku-ji's site, which says the stop is right at the temple. Daisen-in lists an 8-minute walk from the stop. You can also take the Karasuma subway line to Kitaoji Station and change to a city bus to Daitokuji-mae. Kitaoji Station is about a 20-minute walk from the temple. See Getting Around Kyoto for bus passes and tips.
Parking: Daisen-in says it has no car parking and suggests nearby coin parking. A bus-only lot is at the east gate, and Daisen-in says it is about a 7-minute walk to the sub-temple.

What to See

Daisen-in

The main hall (Hojo) of Daisen-in is a National Treasure. Daisen-in's site says it was built in 1513, making it the oldest Zen guest-hall building in the Daitoku-ji grounds. Its dry landscape garden is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. The garden represents water flowing from a waterfall on Mount Horai into a river and then a sea, with rocks standing for the waterfall and a boat stone, and white sand for the water. Sliding-door paintings by Soami and the Kano school are among the works kept inside.

The Complex

The main axis of the complex runs from the Chokushi-mon gate through the Sanmon, the Buddha Hall and the Lecture Hall to the Hojo. The Karamon gate in front of the Hojo is a National Treasure moved from the Jurakudai palace, and the Hojo garden is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. The Sanmon is known for its upper floor, which Sen no Rikyu added. The story that his statue there angered Toyotomi Hideyoshi is linked to Rikyu's death in 1591.

Tea and Zen

According to Daitoku-ji's site, Toyotomi Hideyoshi held Oda Nobunaga's funeral here and built Soken-in, after which warlords built sub-temples of their own. Daisen-in's site says its Shoin room is a tea room where Sen no Rikyu is said to have served tea to Hideyoshi. Daisen-in serves matcha for a fee, and it offers zazen sessions with bookings through its site.

History in Brief

Daitoku-ji was founded in 1315 by the Zen master Daito Kokushi, Shuho Myocho, and came under the patronage of Emperors Hanazono and Go-Daigo. It was ruined in the Onin War, and the monk Ikkyu Sojun restored its buildings. Its sub-temples multiplied in the Momoyama period when warlords built their own.

Questions Visitors Ask

Do I need a ticket for the whole of Daitoku-ji?

The main site does not list admission for the grounds. Daisen-in charges ¥500 for adults, and other sub-temples set their own fees, so check each one.

Which sub-temple should I choose?

This guide covers Daisen-in because it has its own official site with clear hours and fees. Other sub-temples have their own pages.

Is Daisen-in open on weekends?

Yes. Its site gives opening hours for every day of the year.

How far is it from Kyoto Station?

Daitoku-ji's site lists city buses 204 and 206 from Kyoto Station to Daitokuji-mae. It does not give a ride time.