Directions and highlights of Sennyu-ji Temple.

Sennyu-ji Temple (泉涌寺) is the grand head temple of Shingon sect Senyuji school located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City.

The honorific mountain prefix is ‘Tozan (東山).’

Its principal images are Shaka Nyorai (釈迦如来), Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来) and Miroku Nyorai (弥勒如来), which are known as known as ‘Sanze-Butsu (三世仏).’

Because this temple was a family temple of the Imperial Family for a long time, it is also called Mi-tera (御寺).

History of Sennyu-ji

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

It is said that this temple was founded in 856 of the Heian period by Shinshu Shonin (神修上人).

The high priest Shunjyo completed the temple buildings after returning from Sung dynasty (China) in 1218.

At that time, it is said that a sacred fountain gushed out in the precinct.

So, the temple was renamed ‘Sennyu-ji’ which has the meaning of the flowing fountain.

After that, Sennyu-ji prospered as a training hall for Yonshu kengaku (learning the four sects of the Ritsu, Mitsu, Zen and Pure Land).

Since Emperor Shijo’s demise in 1242 and his mausoleum’s construction on the precinct, it became the family temple of the imperial family.

After that, it was designated as an Imperial mausoleum, Koge-ji temple (general name for temples where ihai or ancestral tablets are enshrined) and relations with the Imperial House was deepened.

Information for visitors

Address：27, Sennyuji Yamanochicho, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0977, Japan
Phone：+81-75-561-1551
Foundation：856
Founder：Shinshu Shonin (神修上人)
Sect：Shingon Sect Sennyu-ji School (真言宗泉涌寺派)
Principal image：Sanze-Butsu (三世仏)

Its precincts require an admission fee.

■Open

March – November	9:00～16:30（17:00 closed）
December – February	9:00～16:00（16:30 closed）

■Admission fee

	Regular fee	Additional fee
Adults	500 yen	300 yen
Junior high school student or younger	300 yen	free

Regular fee is necessary to enter the precincts.

Additional fee is necessary to enter the Gozasho and garden.

・Photography and video recording are prohibited inside the building of this temple.

・The worship method of a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple, please refer to the following article.

Japan's Travel Manual

~~https://jpmanual.com/shrine-temple~~

This site introduces a easiest way to get sightseeing spots in japan to you.

Next, Let’s go to see the highlights of this temple with me!

Highlights of Sennyu-ji

・「*」Regular fee spot
・「**」Additional fee spot
・「***」Private spot

総門:So-mon gate
大門【重要文化財】:Dai-mon gate【Important cultural property】
仏殿【重要文化財】*:Butsu-den hall【Important cultural property】*
舎利殿*:Shari-den hall*
勅使門*:Chokushi-mon gate*
御座所**:Gozasho**
御座所庭園**:Gozasho garden**
海絵堂**:Kaie-do hall**
霊明殿***:Reimei-den hall***
月輪陵*:Tsukinowa-no-misasagi*
開山堂【重要文化財】***:Kaisan-do hall【Important cultural property】***
浴室*:Yokushitsu (bathing room)*
泉涌水屋形*:Sennyusuiyakata*
楊貴妃観音堂*:Yokihi-Kannon-do*
心照殿*:Shinsho-den hall*
鎮守社*:Chinju-sha Shrine*
解脱金剛宝塔*:Gedatsu-kongo-hoto pagoda*

総門:So-mon gate

大門【重要文化財】:Dai-mon gate【Important cultural property】

仏殿【重要文化財】:Butsu-den hall【Important cultural property】

It is the structure rebuilt in 1668 of the Edo period owing to the donation made by Ietsuna TOKUGAWA (徳川家綱).

Sanze-Butsu (三世仏) of the principal image of this temple is enshrined.

舎利殿:Shari-den hall

It was relocated from Kyoto Imperial Palace and rebuilt in 1668 of the Edo period.

勅使門:Chokushi-mon gate

It was rebuilt in 1845 of the Edo period.

御座所:Gozasho

It was rebuilt in 1884 of the Meiji period.

Additional fee is necessary to enter this building.

御座所庭園:Gozasho garden

Additional fee is necessary to enter this garden.

海絵堂:Kaie-do hall

It was rebuilt in 1873 of the Meiji period.

Additional fee is necessary to enter this building.

霊明殿:Reimei-den hall

It was rebuilt in 1884 of the Meiji period.

Houses the Buddhist mortuary tablets of successive emperors from Emperor Tenchi and Emperor Konin to Emperor Showa (including emperors of both northern and southern imperial courts) and their wives.

月輪陵:Tsukinowa-no-misasagi

It is the Imperial mausoleum called Tsukinowa-no-misasagi.

The inner area is not ordinarily open to the public.

開山堂【重要文化財】:Kaisan-do hall【Important cultural property】

浴室:Yokushitsu (bathing room)

It was rebuilt in 1897 of the Meiji period.

It has the role of the bathroom that cleanses the body for ascetic practices.

泉涌水屋形:Sennyusuiyakata

It was rebuilt in 1668 of the Edo period.

楊貴妃観音堂:Yokihi-Kannon-do

Wooden sitting statue of Kannon (Yokihi Kannon) is enshrined.

心照殿:Shinsho-den hall

A museum adjoining the Yokihi-Kannon-do (Empress Yang-Avalokitesvara Hall) that sequentially displays the cultural properties possessed by Sennyu-ji Temple and its sub-temples.

鎮守社:Chinju-sha Shrine

It is the Chinju-sha shrine (Shinto shrine on Buddhist temple grounds dedicated to the tutelary deity of the area) of the Sennyu-ji.

解脱金剛宝塔:Gedatsu-kongo-hoto pagoda

今熊野観音寺(Imakumano Kannon-ji Temple)

It was founded in 807 of the Heian period by Kobo-Daishi Kukai (弘法大師空海).

The principal image is Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu (十一面観世音菩薩).

雲龍院(Unryu-in Temple)

It was founded in 1372 of the period of Northern and Southern Courts by Emperor Gokogon (後光厳天皇).

The principal image is Yakushi Nyorai (薬師如来).

▽Visit report▽

Japan's Travel Manual

~~https://jpmanual.com/unryuin~~

This site introduces a easiest way to get sightseeing spots in japan to you.

来迎院(Raigo-in Temple)

It was founded in 806 of the Heian period by Kobo-Daishi Kukai (弘法大師空海).

The principal image is Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来).

善能寺(Zenno-ji Temple)

It was founded in 823 of the Heian period by Kobo-Daishi Kukai (弘法大師空海).

The principal image is Sho Kannon (聖観音).

新善光寺(Shinzenko-ji Temple)

It was founded in 1243 of the Kamakura period by Chigan Nensai (値願念西).

The principal image is Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来).

戒光寺(Kaiko-ji Temple)

It was founded in 1228 of the Kamakura period by Jogo Donsho (浄業曇照).

The principal image is Shaka Nyorai (釈迦如来).

法音院(Hoon-in Temple)

It was founded in 1326 of the Kamakura period by Munin Nyodo (無人如導).

The principal image is Fukukensaku Kannon (不空羂索観音).

即成院(Sokujo-in Temple)

It was founded in the Heian period by TACHIBANA no Toshitsuna (橘俊綱).

The principal image is Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来).

悲田院(Hiden-in Temple)

It was founded in 1326 of the Kamakura period by Munin Nyodo (無人如導).

The principal image is Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来).

Video of Sennyu-ji

Photos of Sennyu-ji

Sennyu-ji Temple (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto)：泉涌寺（京都市東山区）

Goshuin (red ink stamp) of Sennyu-ji

Temple’s Goshuin is ‘Reimeiden (霊明殿)’ which is the name of the building to enshrine the spirits of successive Emperors.

It is the Yokihi-Kannon-do’s goshuin.

How to get to Sennyu-ji

Nearest station is Keihan Railway or JR Tofukuji Station.

(We can also go by bus from JR Kyoto Station and Keihan Gion-Shijo Station.)

From Osaka Sta. to Tofukuji Sta. (by train)

Timetable and Route Search (train)

1.Get on the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station.

2.Change to the JR Nara Line at Kyoto Station.

3.Get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station.

From Namba Sta. to Tofukuji Sta. (by train)

Timetable and Route Search (train)

1.Get on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line from Namba Station to Umeda Station.

2.Change to the JR Kyoto Line at Osaka Station.

3.Get on the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station.

4.Change to the JR Nara Line at Kyoto Station.

5.Get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station.

From Kyoto Sta. to Tofukuji Sta. (by train)

Timetable and Route Search (train)

1.Get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station.

From Tofukuji Sta. (on foot)

[Show thumbnails]

It’s about 25 minutes (1.2 km) on foot.

Get on a bus from Kyoto Station

Timetable and Route Search (bus)

①Please get on the Kyoto City Bus No.208 or 88 (bus stop D2) and get off at Sennyuji-michi (Sennyuji Temple).

Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination
-No. 208[Bound for Tofukuji Temple]
-No. 88[Bound for Tofukuji Temple](Only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta. [D2]
Alighting bus stop：Sennyuji-michi (Sennyuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 15 min

[Timetable]No. 208[Bound for Tofukuji Temple]

www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp

京都市バス時刻表：京都駅前発 208号系統博物館　三十三間堂泉涌寺・東福寺行き...

https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/busdia/hyperdia/061248.htm

[Timetable]No. 88[Bound for Tofukuji Temple](Only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)

www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp

京都市バス時刻表：京都駅前発 88号系統東福寺行き[061-24-3]

https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/busdia/hyperdia/061243.htm

Get on a bus from Gion-shijo Station

Timetable and Route Search (bus)

①Please get on the Kyoto City Bus No.2078 (Shijo Keihan-mae [A]bus stop) and get off at Sennyuji-michi (Sennyuji Temple).

Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No. 207[Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Keihan-mae [A]
Alighting bus stop：Sennyuji-michi (Sennyuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 15 min

[Timetable]No. 207[Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple]

www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp