Rinsho-in Temple (麟祥院) is one of the sub-temples (塔頭:tatchu) of Myoshin-ji (妙心寺) which is located in Hanazono, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
It was constructed in 1634 by the third generation Shogun Iemitsu TOKUGAWA (徳川家光), is also the family temple of Lady-Kasuga (春日局) who was the wet nurse of Iemitsu.
This temple has the beautiful moss garden and we can see the Unryu-zu (painting of dragon and clouds) which is the work of Yusetsu KAIHO (海北友雪).
Myoshin-ji, the head temple of Rinsho-in, is one of the biggest Zen temple in Japan, and it has a total of 48 sub-temples.
Among those sub-temples, only Keishun-in, Taizo-in, and Daishin-in are open to the public on a regular basis.
But Rinsho-in is only open to the public on specific days (not fixed).
History of Rinsho-in
Let’s study the history of this temple with me.
I think that we can enjoy sightseeing of this temple more by learning the history of it. XD
Rinsho-in Temple (麟祥院) is one of the sub-temples (塔頭:tatchu) of Myoshin-ji (妙心寺) which is located in Hanazono, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Myoshin-ji is one of the biggest Zen temple in Japan, and it has a total of 48 sub-temples.
The original temple named Kitsuji-shobukoji was constructed by Iemitsu TOKUGAWA (徳川家光), the third-generation shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, in 1634 for Lady-Kasuga’s family temple who was his wet nurse.
At the time of the foundation, this temple was built a little south location.
In 1897, the main hall of this temple, mausoleum and guardian deity were moved to its current location.
There is the stone monument showing Lady-Kasuga’s family temple at the side of the temple gate.
Information for visitors
It is only open to the public on specific days (not fixed).
■Special admission information (Japanese text only)
Below is the information on “Special admission in the winter of 2019”.
Information
Address：49, Hanazono Myoshinjicho, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 616-8035, Japan
Phone：+81- 75-463-6563
Foundation：1634
Founder：Lady-Kasuga (春日局)
Sect：Rinzai Sect (臨済宗)
Principal image：Shaka Nyorai (釈迦如来)
Open
10:00~16:00
Admission Fee
| Adults | 600 yen |
| Children | 300 yen |
Other information
・Please ask temple’s staff where you can take photos and videos.
・Worship method of a shinto shrine and a buddhist temple, please refer to the following article.
Next, Let’s go to see highlights of this temple with me!
Highlights of Rinsho-in
- 山門(San-mon Gate)
- 境内*(Precincts of the temple)*
- 方丈*(Hojo Hall)*
- 方丈庭園*(Hojo Garden)*
- 御霊屋*(Mitamaya Hall)*
- 庫裏*(Kuri:priests’ quarters)*
- 春日稲荷*(Kasuga Inari Shrine)*
This mark ‘*‘ is a pay area.
山門(San-mon Gate)
San-mon Gate, at the entrance of an approach to the temple.
境内*(Precincts of the temple)*
Precincts of the temple overgrown with moss.
Design of the tile roof is a family crest of Lady-Kasuga, is the three-line design called Sumikiri-kakuni-san (隅切角に三).
方丈*(Hojo Hall)*
Entrance to the Hojo Hall.
The entrance window called Katomado (火灯窓).
Whole view of the Hojo Hall. It was reconstructed in 1897.
In this building, the Unryu-zu (painting of dragon and clouds) which is the work of Yusetsu KAIHO (海北友雪), a painter who represents the early Edo period, is displayed.
This is the screen of many camellias (百椿図屏風) given for Lady-Kasuga by Iemitsu TOKUGAWA.
This is displayed in the Hojo Hall, too.
方丈庭園*(Hojo Garden)*
Hojo Garden is a dry landscape garden famous for hair moss.
Dolphins, had been decorated in the old Yodo Castle’s roof of a castle-tower, is arranged on the right side of the garden.
御霊屋*(Mitamaya Hall)*
Mitamaya Hall is said to have been made by Enshu KOBORI (小堀遠州).
Wooden statue of Lady Kasuga is enshrined in this building.
庫裏*(Kuri:priests’ quarters)*
春日稲荷*(Kasuga Inari Shrine)*
Video of Rinsho-in
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Photos of Rinsho-in
Goshuin (red ink stamp) of Rinsho-in
Temple’s Goshuin is “御福 (Ofuku)” which is the childhood name of Lady Kasuga.
We can get it in the entrance.
How to get to Rinsho-in
Rinsho-in is in the precincts of the Myoshin-ji.
Nearest station is JR Hanazono Station or Randen Kitano Line Myoshin-ji Station.
We can also go by bus from ‘JR Kyoto Station’, ‘Hankyu Kawaramachi Station’, and ‘Keihan Gion-Shijo Station’.
From Osaka Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station and change to the JR Sagano Line.
2.Get on the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Hanazono Station.
From Namba Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the Osaka Metro Midosuji-Line from Namba Station to Umeda Station and change to the JR Kyoto Line.
2.Get on the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station and change to the JR Sagano Line.
3.Get on the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Hanazono Station.
From Kyoto Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Hanazono Station.
From JR Hanazono Station (on foot)
It’s about 6 minutes (400m) on foot.
From Myoshinji Station (on foot)
It’s about 5 minutes (300m) on foot.
Get on a bus from JR Kyoto Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.26 (Kyoto Sta.[D3]) and get off Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：26/Bound for Omuro Ninnaji Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D3]
Alighting bus stop：Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Get on a bus from Kawaramachi Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.10 (Shijo Kawaramachi [A]) and get off Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：10/Bound for Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Kawaramachi [A]
Alighting bus stop：Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 43 min
Get on a bus from Gion-Shijo Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.10 (Shijo Keihan-mae [C]) and get off Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：10/Bound for Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Keihan-mae [C]
Alighting bus stop：Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 40 min
Take a taxi
From Kyoto Station：about 3,000 yen (20 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：about 2,800 yen (15 minutes)
・Let’s show a taxi driver the following phrase.
・If you want to call a taxi, let’s show the following phrase.
[Phone number of taxi dispatch : Around the Kyoto Station]*Japanese text only.
Hotel search & reservation around Rinsho-in
How did you like it?
Have a nice trip!
