10 Nov 2023 - Kyoto Day 1: Kodai-ji Temple and Entokuin Temple

As mentioned in my previous post, instead of walking to the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple which will most likely be closed by the time we reached there, we decided to visit the nearby Kodai-ji Temple.  We were surprised to see a queue at the ticket counter since the sky was already getting dark.  Later then we realized the temple will light up at night for special night viewing during this period.

We bought the combo tickets that allow us to visit Kodai-ji Temple, Sho Museum and Entokuin Temple.

Kodai-ji (高台寺) is an outstanding temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama District established in 1606. It belongs to the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.  The temple features richly decorated interiors and are surrounded by beautiful Zen gardens.

One of the gardens is a rock garden consisting of a large field of raked gravel meant to represent the vast ocean. The other garden is an impressive Tsukiyama-style garden featuring a pond, man-made hills, decorative rocks and beautiful pine and maple trees.

The gardens were lit up during special illumination shows in spring and autumn.  I must say, the show was exceptional and totally unexpected.  

Up on the hillside behind the temple lies a mausoleum.  Further up the hill are two tea houses, one of which was designed by the tea master Sen no Rikyu.  The return path to the temple buildings passes through a bamboo grove.

The bamboo grove was beautifully lighted up.  It was a cool and relaxing stroll through the grove.

As we exited the temple, a series of steps, named Nene's Path, led us back down to the streets of the Higashiyama District.

This area is home to the small Kodaiji Sho Museum, which exhibits treasures of Kodaiji, Nene and several pieces of lacquer artwork. The complex is surrounded by the buildings of Entokuin Temple.

Entokuin Temple is a small subtemple of Kodai-ji that features two more Zen gardens.

In one of the halls, we had the opportunity to try out sand art on a miniature sand pit. 

Entoku-in Temple rewards the adventurous visitor with a tight warren of narrow corridors and exquisitely decorated reception and meditation halls, some of which look out on one of Kyoto’s finest gardens.

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