Overview
In this post, I’ll show you an itinerary to enjoy the autumn leaves in Kyoto: Nanzenji temple, Tenjuan temple, Ginakkuji temple, Shisendo temple, and Enkoji temple.
Start at Kyoto Subway Keage station
08:20 at Keage sta.
We head for Nanzenji temple. On foot as indicated in the map.
1. Nanzenji Temple 南禅寺の紅葉
About Nanzenji temple 南禅寺について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★☆
- We arrive: 08:40
- We leave: 09:25
- Entrance fee・・・Garden, Sanmon; 500 JPY individually.
- Website・・・Nanzenji (in Japanese)
Nanzenji is one of the most important Zen temple along with Tenryuji, Shokokuji , Kenninji, Tofukuji, and Manjuji temple.
The iconic Sanmon gate is referred in Sanmon Gosan no Kiri, a Kabuki play written in the 18th century. The man is Ishikawa Goemon, a leader of bandits in the 16th century and the ancestor of Ishikawa Goeon XIII in Lupin III.
The garden belongs to the Hojo was designed by Konori Ensyu, one of the most famous garden designer in Japan. The theme of garden is the same as that of Ryoanji temple.
The auumn leaves 南禅寺の紅葉の特徴
Sanmon Gate 三門
Near Hatto 法堂付近
Near the aqueduct 水道橋付近
Hojo garden 方丈庭園
We take advantage of Higashiyama Moutains as Shakkei.
Shakkei is an art to enjoy garden. We use something outside of a garden as a background.
Rokudo Tei garden 六道庭
The garden stands for the reincarnation in Buddhism.
For Tenjuan temple 天授庵に向け出発
Around 09:45, we head for Tenjuan Temple.
2. Tenjuan temple 天授庵の紅葉
About Tenjuan temple 天授庵について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★☆
- We arrive: 09:30
- We leave: 10:30
- Entrance fee・・・500 JPY
- Website・・・Not available
Tenjuan is one of the most underrated places in Kyoto. It has a calm Karesansui garden and a stroll garden. Stroll garden has a pond and we can meet beautiful Nishikigoi carp there. One of my favorite places.
The autumn leaves 天授庵の紅葉の特徴
Extraordinary red
Tenjuan temple is one of the places we really can enjoy red leaves. To our regert, many photos we encounter in many places are adjusted with apps.
Near the entrance gate 入口付近
Karesansui garden 方丈庭園
The south garden書院南庭園
DO NOT MISS IT. MAGNIFIQUE.
Night illumination ライトアップ
Not available these years.
For Eikando Temple 永観堂に向け出発
Around 10:30, we head for Eikando Temple.
3. Eikando temple 永観堂（禅林寺）の紅葉
About Eikando temple 永観堂について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★★
- We arrive: 10:40
- We leave: 12:00
- Entrance fee・・・1000 JPY (Fall only. 600 JPY usually)
- Website・・・Eikando (in Japanese)
About Eikando temple 永観堂（禅林寺）の特徴
Eikando is the most famous place to enjoy autumn leaves in Kyoto. Actually, we can admire many beautiful colors. If you can visit only one place to visit in fall, this is the place.
The most crowded place but worth visiting. Be there without fail.
The autumn leaves 永観堂（禅林寺）の紅葉の特徴
As described, Eikando provides us with one of the most beautiful colors in Kyoto. In addition to it, there are many trees and Migoro goes on for a long time.
Night illumination ライトアップ
The night illumination is beyond description.
For Ginkakuji Temple 銀閣寺に向け出発
Around 12:00, we head for Ginkakuji temple by way of the Philosopher’s path.
Have a lunch in the restaurant near Ginkakuji temple. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Ginkakuji.
4. Ginkakuji temple 銀閣寺の紅葉
About Ginkakuji temple 銀閣寺について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★☆
- We arrive: 13:30
- We leave: 14:30
- Entrance fee・・・500 JPY
- Website・・・Ginkakuji (in English)
Ginkakuji means “silver temple” but it has never been plated with silver, making a good contrast to Kinakakuji temple plated with gold. Both of them were constructed under the strong influence of Saihoji temple. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the founder of Ginkakuji and the 8th Shogun of Ashikaga Shogunate wanted to have Ginkakuji as “his own Saihjoji.”
The pavilion in the photo is Kannondo known as so-called Ginkakuji (silver pavilion) . Ginkakuji consists of many facilities including Kannondo.
The Autumn leaves 銀閣寺の紅葉の特徴
We can enjoy the autumn leaves in red, yellow and others in the extraordinary mosses. The garden was designed for visitors to admire Kannondo (so-called Ginkakuji) in any places in the garden.
For Shisendo temple 詩仙堂に向け出発
We head for Shisendo temple by TAXI.
Don’t worry, we can take taxi easily around Ginkakuji.
5. Shisendo temple 詩仙堂の紅葉
About Shisendo temple 詩仙堂について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★☆
- We arrive: 15:00
- We leave: 15:45
- Entrance fee・・・700 JPY
- Website・・・Shisendo (in Japanese)
Shisendo used to be a villa belonged to Ishikawa Jozan served for Tokuagawa Ieyasu. One of the rooms is decorated with paintings of ancient Chinese poets. Today, it is a small and quiet Buddhist temple with many flowers. We can admire real red autumn leaves with green mosses and plants.
The Autumn leaves 詩仙堂の紅葉
We can admire many colors there.
For Enkoji temple 圓光寺へ向け出発
Around 15:45, we head for Enkoji temple on foot.
圓光寺の紅葉
About Shisendo temple 詩仙堂について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★☆
- We arrive: 16:00
- We leave: 17:00
- Entrance fee・・・1000 JPY in fall (usually 600 JPY)
- Website・・・Enkoji (in English)
ATTENTION! LAST YEAR RESERVATION NEEDED. The temple has not announced the reservation of 2024. Check out the website of Enkoji before you visit.
Enkoji was founded as a school by Tokugawa Ieyasu. In fall, Jyugyu no Niwa garden is ornamented with many colors. It implies the way for the enlightenment.
Find Kawaii Ojizosan (Jizo, the Buddhist deity) there.
Leave Enkoji 圓光寺から出発
Head for Eiden Ichijoji station or Ichijoji Sagari Matsu bus stop.
