Japanese Green Maple in Kyoto
What is Japanese Green Maple?
These days, we hear of Japanese Green Maple as long as the Autumn Leaves/Colors. In Japan, Maple tree blooms in early spring and has beautiful green leaves in mid-spring and the leaves turn red and yellow in late fall. We enjoy green leaves from spring to early fall. In this article, I’ll show you top 7 sites to admire them.
The difference between green maple and autumn leaves
In fall, we can enjoy many colors shown in the pictures above.
On the other hand, green maple has the almost same colors but we have different ways to enjoy them. Let me show you them, BAAH!
The top 7 spots for Japanese Green Maple in Kyoto 2018
#1 Tenjuan temple 天授庵
What is Tenjuan temple?
Tenjuan temple is a small Rinzai school temple belongs to Nanzenji temple. In fall, many people visits there for enjoying Autumn leaves.
Japanese Green Maple in Tenjuan temple
The Zen rock garden
Tenjuan has two gardens. The one is Zen rock garden. As you’ll see later, it has one of the most beautiful Autumn Colors in Kyoto. The garden belongs to Hoji, an abott’s quaters, and it has a veranda we can sit on to admire the garden.
The Shoin garden
Having enjoyed the Zen garden, we cross wooden bridges. The pond welcomes us with “Mizukagami.” Mizukagami is an art Japanese people love when they adore somthing. In the technique, they use surface of water as mirror and admire a reflection.
On the other side, there is another pond.
On the pond, we can see many water lilies in early summer. In the Buddhism, water lily and lotus are important flowers. They make supreme flower called “Renge” in the Buddhism. Both water lily and lotus bloom beautiful flowers though they have their roots in mud. For us, they seems like a person of a great rectitude in the secular world. In the theme song of famous Japanese movie “It’s tough, being a man,” Tora san sings “The person who has roots, which means strong will to live through this world, destined to be in bloom though she/he is in doldrums.”
We also enjoy amazing moss.
There are many carps in the pond. Sometimes they make the reflections rippled.
The autumn leaves in Tenjuan
As we see, we have warm and bright colors in Tenjuan
Enjoy the garden of Tenjuan! (We have a custom to see something reminds us of winter in summer time to forget heat.)
Of course you can enjoy the green maples in video!
About Tenjuan
Offical name: Zuihozan Tenjuan
Address: Nanzenji Fukuike cho, Sakyo ward, Kyoto city, 606-8435
Phone no.: 075-771-0744
Website: Not available
Open hours: 8:40~17:00
Admission fee: Adult 400 yen highschool student 300 yen elementary and junior high school student 200 yen
The time required 30 minutes～
Access to Tenjuan
It takes about 10 minutes from Subway Keage station.
#2 Kamigamo shrine 上賀茂神社
What is Kamigamo shrine?
Kamigamo shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrine in Kyoto and the Imperial court has high respect for it. Even today, the emperor sends a massenger to it in Aoi matsuri festival. About 60 years ago, common people were not admitted to pay a visit there. The world Heritage site.
Japanese Green Maple in Kamigamo shrine
Syokei en garen
We have many Japanese Green Maples there but the place I recommend to you is a garden called “Shokei en.”
On the second Sundy of April, “Kamo kyokusui no en” party is held. In the party, participants in beautiful Kimono of the ancient style compose Japanese poem in the traditional music.
The autumn leaves in Kamigamo shrine
In Kamigamo shrine, we can see stunning red and vermilion leaves.
Aoi matsuri festival 2018
Kamigamo shrine is famous for Aoi matsuri festival. Let us enjoy it!
About Tenjuan
Official name: Kamo wake ikazuchi jinjya shrine
Defacto name: Kamigamo jinjya shrine
Address: 339, Kamigamo honzan, Kita ward, Kyoto city
Phone no. 075-781-0011
Fax no. 075-702-6618
Website: Kamigamo shrine offical page
Open hours: 10:00~16:00
Admission fee: free
The time required 30 minutes～
Access to Kamigamo shrine
At Subway Kitaoji station, take bus no.37 and get off at Kamigamo misono bashi bus stop. It takes about 5 minutes to Kamigamo shrine.
#3 Ginkakuji temple 銀閣寺
What is Ginkakuji temple?
Ginkakuji temple was built in 15th century as a retirement villa of Ashikaga Yosimasa, the 8th Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate. It shows us the foundation of Japanese culture. It is also known as “the silver pavilion,” though it is not plastered with silver actually. (On the other hand, the golden pavilion is plastered with gold.) The World Heitage site.
Japanese Green Maple in Ginkakuji temple
In the garden
In Ginkakuji temple, the garden is covered with the extraordinary green of Japanese Maple and moss. We can spot some flowers and plants which tell us the season we are in.
The autumn leaves in Ginkakuji temple
In fall, we can enjoy the Autumn colors in the green.
The Autumn Colors of Ginkakuji temple is not as vivid like Eikando temple.
About Ginkakuji
Official name: Tozan Jishoji
Defacto name: Ginkakuji temple
Address: Ginkakuji cho 2, Sakyo ward, Kyoto city, 606-8402
Phone no. 075-771-5725
Fax no. 075-771-5439
Website: Ginkakuji temple official page (Japanese language only)
Open hours:
March～November 8：30～17：00
December～Feburary 9：00～16：30
Admission fee: Over 16 years old 500 yen
The time required 60 minutes～
Access to Ginkakuji temple
It takes about 10 minutes from Ginkakuji mae/ Ginkakuji michi bus stop.
#4 Rengeji temple 蓮華寺
What is Rengeji temple?
Rengeji is a small temple located in the rural area of Kyoto city. We can be in a complete silence.
Japanese Green Maple in Rengeji temple
Hoji garden
It seems a common garden but as I indicated before, it is very quiet. All we can hear is a rustle of leaves.
The autumn leaves in Rengeji temple
In fall, Rengeji has astonishing Autumn Colors and lures many people on.
About Rengeji temple
Official name: Kimyozan Rengeji
Defacto name: Rakuhoku Rengeji
Address: Kamitakano Hachimancyo 1, Sakyo ward, Kyoto city, 606-0065
Phone no. 075-781-3494
Website: Not available
Open hours: 9:00～17:00
Admission fee: Over 16 years old 400 yen
The time required 20 minutes～
Access to Rengeji temple
It takes 5 minutes from Eiden Miyake Hachiman station.
#５位 Eikando temple 永観堂（禅林寺）
What is Eikando?
Eikando’s official name is “Zenrinji temple.” Eikando is named after the fomous monk “Yokan.” It has a statue of Amitabha on the verge of turning around. It has one of the most amazing Autumn Leaves in Kyoto.
Japanese Green Maple in Eikando temple
As in Rengeji temple, we have common Greem Maple in Eikando but we have extraordinary Autumn Colors there in every fall. Let us enjoy the Green Maples as a prelude for Autumn.
The autumn leaves in Eikando temple
As we see, Eikando has the first-class Autumn Colors. The peculiar thing is that we could be in many colors. We cannot enjoy many colors at the same place in any other places. In addition to it, these colors are very exquisite.
We have illumination extravaganza. Nothing but perfect.
About Eikando temple
Official name: Shuju Raigozan Muryojuin Zenrinji
Defacto name: Eikando temple
Address: Eikando cho 48, Sakyo ward, Kyoto city, 606-8445
Phone no. 075-761-0007
Fax no. 075-771-4243
Website: Eikando offical website
Open hours: 9:00～17:00
Admission fee: Adult 600 yen 7~18 years old 400 yen
The time required 60 minutes～
Access to Eikando temple
About 10 minutes from Nanzenji eikando michi/ Higashi tenno cho bus stop.
#6 Rurikoin temple 瑠璃光院
What is Rurikoin temple?
Rurikoin is a fomer auberge and became a Buddhist temple in 2005. It is famous for “Yukamomiji,” a reflection of maple leaves on a surface of floor.
Japanese Green Maple in Rurikoin temple
Yukamomiji
This is Yukamomiji I indicated. Very amazing.
Actually, a table reflects green maples, not a floor.
The autumn leaves in Rurikoin temple
I prefer the twilight time.
Not only the leaves in reflection but in the garden is also prefect.
Open dates of Ruikoin temple in Spirng 2018
Rurikoin temple is not open to public usually.
Open schedule in this spring;
About Eikando temple
Official name: Muryojuzan Komyoin Ruikoin
Address: Takano Higashiyama 55, Sakyo ward, Kyoto city, 601-1255
Phone no. 075-781-4001
Website: Rurikoin offical website
Open hours: 9:00～17:00
Admission fee: 2000 yen
The time required 60 minutes～
Access to Rurikoin temple
It takes 10 minutes from Eiden Yase Hieizanguchi station.
#７ Hogoin temple 宝厳院
What is Hogoinin temple?
Hogonin is a Rinzai-school temple belongs to Tenryuji temple located in Arashiyama area. It is not open to public usually. We visit there only in spring and fall.
In spring time we can admire amzing weeping cherry blossom.
Japanese Green Maple in Hogonin temple
Hogon in is rich in green maple and moss as Ginkakuji temple. The peculiar thing in Hogonin is shadow cast on the moss.
The autumn leaves in Hogonin temple
In illuminated Hogonin, we can see very stunning red leaves.
About Hogonin temple
Official name: Daikizan Hogonin
Address: Saga Tenryuji Susukino Babacho 36, Ukyo ward, Kyoto city, 616-8385
Phone no. 075-861-0091
Website: Hogonin offical website
Access to Hogonin temple
It takes about 10 minutes form JR Saga Arashiyama station, Randen Arashiyama station, and Hankyu Arashiyama station.
The Atumne leaves in Kyoto
Let us enjoy the Autumn Leaves in Kyoto in advance.
