Overview 概要
In this post, I’ll show you an itinerary to enjoy the autumn leaves in Kyoto in late November or early December: Tofukuji tempole, Komyoin temple, Korinin temple, Ryoanji temple, and Toji. We can enjoy the best autumn leaves and night illumination. The 4 out of 5 destinations are Zen temples.
Start at JR/ Keihan Tofukuji sta.東福寺駅からスタート
JR/ Keihan Tofukuji station at 8:10
The view on Gaunkyo bridge.
It takes about 10 minutes to Tofukuji usually but it would take 20 minites in autumn leaves season due because we take photos on Gaunkyo bridge (the red annotation on the map).
1. Tofukuji temple 東福寺の紅葉
About Tofukuji temple 東福寺について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★★
- We arrive: 08:30
- We leave: 10:30
- Entrance fee・・・Tsutenbashi bridge: (1000 JPY), Garden, Garden: 500 JPY individually.
- Website・・・Tofukuji (in Japanese)
Tofukuij used to be have thousands of Sakura trees. And they were cut down in the 15th century because Sakura admirers visited the temple and they prevented the monks from Buddhist training in calmness every spring. Later, the temple planted Kaede trees. Today, it was known as one of the most poplar and crowded place to enjoy autumn leaves in Kyoto despite the monk’s will.
Tofukuji has 2 places to visit. The stroll garden and Honbo garden.
Tsutenbashi bridge 通天橋付近
The stroll garden is located in Sangyoku Kan valley in the temple (Tofukuji is a large complex of facilities),
います。）雑誌などでみると、東福寺の紅葉は色彩が有無を言わさず迫ってくるような印象を受けますが、実際は繊細さが際立っています。
Tsutenkyo bridge
There is a bridge called Tsutenkyo bridge. First, we stroll around the valley and admire the iconic view from the bridge.
Tsutenkyo is abridge over the stream in the valley.
The iconic view from Tsutenkyo bridge. The one in the photo is Gaunkyo bridge we crossed on the way to Tofukuji temple.
There are beautiful mosses. Enjoy the leaves fell off on them.
Honbo garden 本坊庭園
Honbo means a main facility in a temple. The one of Tofukuji is surrounded by four gardens designed by Shigemori Mirei, the prominent garden artist in the 20th century.
My favorite garden artist.
In the north garden, we can enjoy extraordinary “Gradation” if we can visit there in proper time.
The south garden is a very impressive Karesaunsui. It stands for Hassou Jodou, the eight important events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama.
Tsytenkyo bridge from Honbo.
To Komyoin temple 光明院に向け出発
It takes about 5 minuites on foot.
2. Komyoin temple 光明院の紅葉
About Komyoin temple 光明院について
- Crowded?・・・★☆☆☆☆
- We arrive: 10:35
- We leave: 11:35
- Entrance fee・・・500 JPY
- Website・・・Not available
Komyoin temple is one of the most underrated place in Kyoto. It is a sub-temple of Tofukuji. As referred before, the garden was designated Shigemori Mirei. He is known as “Sessyu in Showa period.”
Sessyu is a Zen monk and artist in the 15th century. He is a master of Japanese ink painting. Mirei is a Karesansui garden designer and Karesansui is a developed Japanese garden under the influence of Chinese ink painting imported in the 14th century.
Komyoin is also known as “Niji no Kokedera (A moss temple in the rainbow)” and we can admire beautiful mosses.
Hashintei garden 波心庭
They are exquisite autumn leaves in the Karesansui Avant-garde.
Near the entrance アプローチ付近
The path to the entrance is an extravaganza.
To JR Kyoto sta. JR京都駅に向け出発
We head for JR Kyoto sta. by way of JR Tofukuji sta.
3. Near JR Kyoto sta.
Lunch time, BAAAHHH!!!
Have a lunch in the restaurant near the station.
4. Subway Kyoto sta. 地下鉄京都駅
Around 13:00, we take subway Karasuma line for Kokusai Kaikan. Get off at Kitaoji sta. and go to Kitaoji bus terminal located next to the station.
At Kitaoji bus terminal, go to BLUE BUS STOP E or G.
- E: 205
- G; 204, 206
Take 204, 205, and 206 and get off at Daitokuji mae bus stop.
It takes about 5 minutes from Daitkuji mae bus stop to Korin in temple.
5. Korinin temple 興臨院の紅葉
About Korinin temple 興臨院について
- Crowded?・・・★☆☆☆☆
- We arrive: 13:40
- We leave: 14:40
- Entrance fee・・・800 JPY
- Website・・・Not available
In 2024, we can visit Korinin from 9/28 to 12/15.
Korinin is a sub-temople of Daitokuji temple and the best and the most underrated place to admire autumn leaves in Kyoto. It is not open to public usually but it opens up the gate for us in spring and fall.
THE BEST PLACE ON THE PLANET. DO NOT MISS IT, RIGHT?
The garden in front of Hoji is a Karesansui and the one located in the backyard is extraordinary. We can enjoy the exquisite colors in the exquisite leaves every year without fail.
The ground with mosses is covered with the fallen leaves casually.
EXQUISITENESS in TRANQUILITY. Sakuras in Haradanien and autumn leaves in Korinin are spectaculars.
To Ryoanji temple 龍安寺に向け出発
- Go back to the Daitokuji mae bus stop you got off some 1 hour before.
- Go to the bus stop located on the other side of the road.(This one is also Daitokuji mae bus stop. There are 2 Daitokuji mae bus stops. )
- Take no. 12 for Kinkakuji temple.
- Get off at Kinakuji michi bus stop.
- WAIT THERE for no. 59. There are 3 Kinkakuji michi bus stops. STAY THERE. Do not go to the others.
- Get off at Ryoanji mae bus stop located the entrance of Ryoanji.
6. Ryoanji temple 龍安寺の紅葉
About Ryoanji temple 龍安寺について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★★
- We arrive: 15:10
- We leave: 16:10
- Entrance fee・・・500 JPY
- Website・・・Ryoanji (in Japanese)
Ryoanji has the most famous Karesansui garden called “The Rock Garden” and we can admire the autumn leaves there. It also has a large stroll garden and we can enjoy beautiful ones there.
The Rock Garden 石庭
The Rock Garden is a garden belongs to Hojo. Karesansui garden has no plants usually but we can admire the autumn leaves as Shakkei. Shakkei is an art of appreciating Japanese garden. We take advantage or the object as a background.
The Back yard 方丈庭園
The hojo also has a backyard garden as Korinin temple. The Rock garden is crowded but the backyard is very quiet.
This is a wash basin located there.
The Kanjis read in clockwise;
“吾”(ware)
“唯”(tada)
“足”(taru)
“知”(siru)
“吾唯知足” read “ware tada taru wo shiru.”
The following are my translation:
I already have all I want to have./ I’ve just find I have what I want to have.
Famous Zen words.
The stroll garden and Kyotchi pond 鏡容池
We stroll around Kyochi pond. The pond used to be more famous than the rock garden in the old days.
To JR Kyoto sta. 京都駅に向け出発
- Go to Ryoanji mae bus stop.
- Take JR Bus for Kyoto sta. NOT Kyoto city bus.
Not the one we got off some 1 hour before, right?
7. Near Kyoto sta. 京都駅
Dinner time, BAAAH!!!
After dinner, we head for the night illumination at Toji temple. About 10 minutes walk.
8. Toji (Night illumination) 東寺の紅葉 （ライトアップ）
About about temple 東寺について
- Crowded?・・・★★★★★
- We arrive: Around 18:00~
- Entrance fee・・・1000 JPY
- Night illumination・・・10/26/2024~12/8/2024
- Website・・・Toji (in English and other languages)
Toji is famous for so-called 3-D mandala and the pagoda. The night illumination in spring and fall is one of the best night illuminations in Kyoto. We can enjoy the pagoda in Mizukagami in both season.
Mizukagami is an art of admiring something. In fall, there usually no wind and we can enjoy a clear Mizukagami.
Mizukagami is a reflection. Check this out.
Toji is one of a few places the autumn leaves in vivid red.
