- Breaking 2024
- Introduction
- The schedule of Aomomiji visit 2024 青もみじの季節の特別拝観の日程
- How to get to Rurikoin?
- A short history of Rurikoin
- Current situation 混雑状況2022年最新
- How to enter Rurikoin 入場方法2022
- The Aomomijis in Rurikoin 瑠璃光院の青もみじのみどころ
- Yamaroji no Niwa 山露地の庭
- Let us copy Sutra! 写経体験
- Ruri no niwa on the 1st floor 瑠璃の庭 一階
- Ruri no niwa on the 2nd floor 瑠璃の庭 二階
- Garyo no niwa 臥龍の庭
- Steam bath 釜風呂
- 瑠璃光院基本情報
- Access to Rurikoin
Breaking 2024
4/13
Today, the spring visit of 2024 started. Now Aomomiji are in pale green.
Introduction
Rurikoin is open to public only in spring and fall. It established its reputation as a place to enjoy Yukamomij, the reflection of the autumn leaves on the tables.
On the other hand, especially foreign tourists, it is one of the most underrated place to admire Aomomiji (Maple leaves in fresh green). In this post, I’ll show you how amazing it is.
The schedule of Aomomiji visit 2024 青もみじの季節の特別拝観の日程
- 4/13/2024～6/16/2024
- Open hours 10：00～17：00 （Entrance closes at 16:30）
- Admission fee 2,000 JPY
We cannot make any reservation in advance.
Our visit could be restricted due to crowds. Check the official website (in Japanese only).
Autumn leaves in Rurikoin? Click.
How to get to Rurikoin?
The bridge is still missing.
We’ll go to the other side but there’s no bridge.
We take the detour route. It takes about 15 minutes to reach Rurikoin.
In front of Yase Hieizanguchi sta., you’ll find this view.
In the red circle, Kan Zakuras (Sakura blooms in fall) bloom.
From Yase Hieizanguchi station, go up the road and turn right.
You’ll find a bridge (red allow) and cross it. The white arrow indicates the bus stop for Ohara. I took this photo near the bus stop for Kawaramachi/ Kokusai kaikan.
Then you’ll find Cable Yase station. Climb down the slope.
We’ll reach the other side of the station.
Just walk straight. You’ll find people wait in line. The red allow indicates the entrance of Rurikoin temple. The road leads to Mikage shrine. Mikage Matsuri, the most important ritual held prior to Aoi Matsuri.
Very important one. Aoi matsuri doesn’t take place without it.
Mikage shrine is loceated in the middle of a mountain. Don’t go there. BEAR in the area.
A short history of Rurikoin
Rurikoin is a small Jodo school temple in the Yase mountain. It belongs to Komyoji temple in Gifu prefecture. As same as some the famous temple like Kinkakuji or Ryoanji temple, it used be a villa.
Rurikoin was founded in 2005. It is a “new” temple because most of the shrines and temples in Kyoto were built in the Edo period (1603-1868). For example, the pagoda in Toji temple was donated by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, to Toji temple. Thanks to its short history, Rurikoin is famous for “Yuka momiji”, rather than main hall or pagoda.
Rurikoin, 瑠璃光院, means “A temple in light of lapis lazuli.” Lapis lazuli is one of seven colors stand for “Gokuraku jodo”, or “極楽浄土”, the paradise in the Buddhism. The Jodo school was named after the word. It is open to public in the short period of time in Spring and Fall.
Current situation 混雑状況2022年最新
4/15
Overview
- We are in the beginning of Aomomiji sesaon. Lots of leaves has flowers. The leaves are in light green. ( In Japanese “pale green”)
- We can enjoy Matcha tea for 1,000 JPY
- Free drink is not available.
- Goshuin stamp is available.
- Goshuin stamp collecting book is 2,300 JPY (2 kinds. Spring and fall.)
The reflection of Ruri no Niwa garden 瑠璃の庭の様子
The leaves are still young.
When Aomomijis are matured, they are in deep green.
Now we have a good opportunity to see how Aomomiji grow up at once.
The way Aomomijis grow up. 1) With baby flowers, 2) Leaves started to grow, 3) Leaves in light green.
The leaves of 1) and 2) still have flowers.
Marcha tea お茶席
On the 1st floor, we can enjoy Matcha tea with Wagashi. Iced Matcha is also available. We can buy the Wagashi at the souvenir shop.
Entrance 玄関
This place is not an exit this year.
Goshuin stamp 御朱印
Goshin stamps are prepared like this. Put Shinokin (Coin or bill. The price depends on you.) Take one of them and wright the date down on it.
Goshuin stamp collecting book is available at the souvenir shop.
How to enter Rurikoin 入場方法2022
昨年の青もみじの時期と同様です。
Before COVID-19, to enter Rurikoin was a tough job. We bought a ticket at the blue alien. We were to be at the blue alien at the time the ticked indicated. Then we walk to the entrance in line.
This year, the red alien place works as a parking lot and we have no need to buy ticket there.
In front of the entrance gate indicated in the red alien. We wait here in line when lots of visitors there.
This is the entrance gate. Buy a ticket at the place indicated in the red arrow.
The Aomomijis in Rurikoin 瑠璃光院の青もみじのみどころ
I prefer Aomomiji because we feel as though everything is born again.
The familiar conviction the life is beginning over again with the summer, old sport.
The video tells you what they mean.
Yamaroji no Niwa 山露地の庭
After the entrance gate, we find we are in Yamaroji no niwa garden located in front of the main entrance. “Yamaroji no niwa” means “The garden in mountain dew.”
In the garden, there is a stream surrounded by beautiful mosses. Beautiful Nishiko Goi Carps are there. Forget about anything annoying watching them.
Let us copy Sutra! 写経体験
At the entrance, we can have a plastic bag contains brochure, pen, and Sutra copy kit.
On the 2nd floor, there is a room for copying sutra.
Never written Kanji? Don’t worry, all we have to do is just tracing the Kanjis. The sutra means the Buddha saves the people who believe in him and their lives will be fulfilled.
Ruri no niwa on the 1st floor 瑠璃の庭 一階
The iconic place of Rurikoin. At the room on the 2nd floor, there are lacquered joined tables and they reflect the maple trees in Ruri no Niwa.
In the morning
In the afternoon
Which do you prefer?
Ruri means lapis lazuli and is one of the colors of Gokuraku Jodo paradise.
We can also enjoy the reflection on the floor.
Ruri no niwa on the 2nd floor 瑠璃の庭 二階
On the 1st floor, Ruri no Niwa looks like this.
On the 1st floor, we can see hand scrolls and paintings. The hand scrolls, we can see many bodhisattvas. This hand scroll is called “Raigozu”, or “来迎図.” These bodhisattvas are coming down to the earth to help people in suffer.
My place, the Afro Duckies make 3-D Raigozu.
The painting describes a spring at Ide no Tamawaga.
Garyo no niwa 臥龍の庭
“Gary no niwa” means “the garden a dragon is laying down”. The small pond and rocks stand for a dragon ascending to heaven. We can also the reflection of the garden on the floor.
Steam bath 釜風呂
The word “Yase” originally means “the arrow stuck in the back.” The name bases on a story of the Emperor Temnu; On his fight for regaining his throne, he narrowly escaped the enemy’s attack with arrows stuck in his back. He hide in a mountain we call Yasa today and he healed the wound in a steam bath there.
Due to the story, Rurikoin has a steam bath. (Sorry, we don’t take it.)
瑠璃光院基本情報
Access to Rurikoin
10 minutes walk from Eiden Yase Hieizanguch station.
