Nanzenji Temple

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Nanzenji Temple

One of the most famous Zen temples in Kyoto, founded by Emperor Kameyama.

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In the latter half of the 13th century, Emperor Kameyama, who had defeated the Mongols (Yuan) twice, became the Pope and made the temple the first imperial temple in Japan as a Zen temple. After the main temple complex was built by Norian Soen, it was succeeded by Issan Ichinei, a high priest who was dispatched to Japan as an envoy of the Gen.

Most of the buildings that remain today were built in the Edo period or later. The Hojo, which is a national treasure, was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the Kyoto Imperial Palace and moved to the Edo period. It is famous for its gorgeous barrier paintings typical of Momoyama art by the Kano school, sculptures by Hidari Jingoro, and a stone garden by Kobori Enshu. The Sanmon gate was reconstructed by Todo Takatora in the early Edo period, and appears in the Kabuki play "Roumon Gosangiri".

In addition to the statues of Shakyamuni and the Sixteen Arhats, there are also magnificent ceiling paintings by Kano Tanyu. The Suido-kaku, located between the Nanzen-in and Hojo gardens, is a waterway bridge that was built in consideration of the surrounding landscape to allow the Lake Biwa Canal to pass through the temple grounds during the Meiji era.

Highlights

  • The Hojo, lined with artifacts from the Momoyama period.
  • On the upper floor of the three gates, called Gohoro, there are statues of Sakyamuni, Arhat, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Todo Takatora.
  • Nanzen-in Temple's circular garden dates back to the Kamakura period. It is the oldest in Kyoto. It is said to have been created by Emperor Kameyama.
  • A waterway pavilion with a series of brick arches
  • Ceiling painting by Keinen Imao in the Buddhist temple rebuilt in the early Meiji era.

Photos

  • Nanzenji Temple is home to 300 maple trees, and in the fall, the leaves change color beautifully.
(Photo Credit: iStock)

    Nanzenji Temple is home to 300 maple trees, and in the fall, the leaves change color beautifully. (Photo Credit: iStock)

  • Traditional Japanese rock garden viewed from the Hojo.
(Photo Credit: iStock)

    Traditional Japanese rock garden viewed from the Hojo. (Photo Credit: iStock)

  • Sanmon Gate, a masterpiece of architecture from the early Edo period.
(Photo Credit: iStock)

    Sanmon Gate, a masterpiece of architecture from the early Edo period. (Photo Credit: iStock)

  • The Dharma Hall in the center of Nanzenji Temple
(Photo Credit: iStock)

    The Dharma Hall in the center of Nanzenji Temple (Photo Credit: iStock)

  • Suirikaku was designed by Sakuro Tanabe, a young man in his 20s who led the construction of the Lake Biwa Sosui Canal.
(Photo Credit: iStock)

    Suirikaku was designed by Sakuro Tanabe, a young man in his 20s who led the construction of the Lake Biwa Sosui Canal. (Photo Credit: iStock)

Reviews

4
  • 朱立山

    喜歡京都的庭園寺造景,~有小橋流水潺潺的地方讓人百來不厭、尤其是櫻花季😍

  • 江雪

    非常美又漂亮的庭院,裡面的水路閣是明治時期建造的西洋式疏水渠,挺宏偉的一座建築。

  • Peter Xu

    日式精緻的庭園,琵琶湖疏水水路閣是很好的拍照背景,門口還可以品嚐京都著名的順正湯豆腐。

  • Wei Ming

    附近有家順正湯豆腐很有名氣,可以來這吃正統京都料理。

Details

Name in Japanese
南禅寺
Postal Code
606-8435
Address
86 Nanzenjifukuchicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Telephone
075-771-0365
Closed
December 28-31
Hours
March-November 8:40am-5:00pm
December-February 8:40am-4:30pm
(Last entry: 20 minutes before closing)
Admission
Hojo Garden: 600 yen (high school students: 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 400 yen), Sanmon Gate: 600 yen (high school students: 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 400 yen), Nanzen-in Temple: 400 yen (high school students: 350 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 250 yen)
Directions
(1) 10-minute walk from Exit 1 of Keage Station on the Tozai Subway Line.
(2) From JR Kyoto Station, take city bus No. 5 via Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station or Keihan Sanjo Station, get off at "Nanzenji/Eikando-michi" and walk for about 10 minutes.
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)