Soken-in (総見院) is a temple of the Daitoku-ji school of the Rinzai sect, located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, and is the tatchu (sub-temple) of Daitoku-ji.
Daitoku-ji is one of the most huge zen-temple in Kyoto, and now it has a total of 24 sub-temples.
Those sub-temples are small temples but have a distinctive charm that big temple does not have.
In addition, they have a history with the deep relationship with their main-temple.
So, when you go to Daitoku-ji, I recommend that you go to these sub-temples.
Soken-in Temple was founded by Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI (豊臣秀吉) for the enlightenment of Nobunaga ODA (織田信長).
So, this temple is known as the family temple of the Odas.
History of Soken-in
Let’s study the history of this sub-temple with me before introducing of Soken-in (総見院).
I think that we can enjoy the sightseeing of this sub-temple more by learning the history of it. XD
Soken-in (総見院) is a temple of the Daitoku-ji school of the Rinzai sect, located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, and is the tatchu (sub-temple) of Daitoku-ji.
Nobunaga ODA (織田信長) was aiming to unify the whole country under ‘his unification of Japan policy,’ however, he suddenly died in the Honnoji Incident (本能寺の変).
So, Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI (豊臣秀吉) founded this temple for the enlightenment of Nobunaga ODA (織田信長) in 1583 of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Nobunaga’s dead body could not be found, Hideyoshi had two wooden statues carved, cremated one, and placed the other at this temple.
The other one is now the principal image of this temple and is designated as an important cultural property.
The founder of this temple is Kokei Sochin (古渓宗陳) who is historycally renowned as the Zen mentor of Sen-no-Rikyu (千利休), revered as the man who perfected the Japanese Way of Tea, or so-called “tea ceremony”.
Information for visitors
It is not ordinarily open to the public (not fixed).
Below is the information on “Special admission in the winter of 2016”.
Special admission information
Information
Address：59, Murasakino Daitokujicho, Kita-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 603-8231, Japan
Phone number：+81-75-492-2630
Foundation：1562
Founder：Kokei Sochin (古渓宗陳)
Sect：Daitoku-ji school of the Rinzai sect
Principal image：Wooden seated statue of Nobunaga ODA
Open
10:00 ~ 16:00
Admission fee
| Adults | 600 yen |
| High school students | 400 yen |
| Junior high students | 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 Soken-in
- 正門:Sei-mon gate
- 本堂*:Hon-do hall*
- 鐘楼(重要文化財):Shoro(Bell tower)(Important cultural property)
- 信長公一族の墓*:Grave of the Odas*
- 香雲軒(茶室)*:Koun-ken(Tea room)*
- 龐庵(茶室)*:Ho-an(Tea room)*
- 寿安席(茶室)*:Juan-seki(Tea room)*
- 茶筅塚*:Chasen-zuka*
- 侘助椿*:Wabisuke Camellia*
- 掘り抜き井戸*:Artesian well*
This mark ‘*‘ is a pay area.
正門:Sei-mon gate
This is Sei-mon gate which was built in 1583 of the Sengoku Period (Azuchi-Momoyama period).
It is one of the original buildings remain.
本堂*:Hon-do hall*
This is Hon-do hall which was rebuilt in 1923.
Wooden seated statue of Nobunaga ODA is enshrined in this building.
鐘楼(重要文化財):Shoro(Bell tower)(Important cultural property)
This is Shoro (Bell tower) built by oblation of Hidemasa HORI (堀秀政) who was a busho (Japanese military commander) and daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) in the Sengoku period (period of warring states).
It is designated as an important cultural property.
信長公一族の墓*:Grave of the Odas*
This is the grave of Odas.
The central grave is a grave of Nobunaga Oda.
香雲軒(茶室)*:Koun-ken(Tea room)*
This is Koun-ken (Tea room).
It is said to have been particularly favored by Sokuchusai (即中斎) who was the 13th generation of the Omotesenke (表千家) family line.
龐庵(茶室)*:Ho-an(Tea room)*
This is Ho-an (Tea room).
This tea room is said to have been particularly favored by Jimyosai (而妙斉) who was the 14th generation of the Omotesenke (表千家) family line.
寿安席(茶室)*:Juan-seki(Tea room)*
This is Juan-seki (Tea room).
It was constructed in 1934 using funds donated by industrialist Gendo YAMAGUCHI (山口玄洞)
茶筅塚*:Chasen-zuka*
This is Chasen-zuka.
Chasen is a bamboo tea whisk which is used for Japanese tea ceremonies.
侘助椿*:Wabisuke Camellia*
This is Wabisuke camellia.
It is over 400 years old and said to be the oldest camellia wabisuke in Japan.
掘り抜き井戸*:Artesian well*
This is artesian well.
It was donated by Kiyomasa KATO (加藤清正) and is said to have been imported from Korea.
Photos of Soken-in
Goshuin (Red ink stamp) of Soken-in
Goshuin of this temple is “Semui (施無畏)” which means the mercy of the Bodhisattva.
We can get this goshuin at the entrance. (300 yen)
How to get to Soken-in
It is located in the precincts of Daitoku-ji.
Nearest station is Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line Kitaoji Station.
We can also go by bus from JR Kyoto 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 Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line.
2.Get on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line from Kyoto Station to Kitaoji 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 Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line.
3.Get on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line from Kyoto Station to Kitaoji Station.
From Kyoto Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line from Kyoto Station to Kitaoji Station.
From Kitaoji Sta. (on foot)
It’s about 25 minutes (1.3 km) on foot.
Get on a bus from Kitaoji Sta.
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.204 or 206 (Kitaoji Bus Terminal [G]) and get off Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：204/Bound for Kinkakuji Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kitaoji Bus Terminal [G]
Alighting bus stop：Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 5 min
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：204/Bound for Ginkakuji Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kitaoji Bus Terminal [G]
Alighting bus stop：Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 5 min
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：206/Bound for Kyoto Sta.
Boarding bus stop：Kitaoji Bus Terminal [G]
Alighting bus stop：Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 5 min
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：206/Bound for Kyoto Sta. Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kitaoji Bus Terminal [G]
Alighting bus stop：Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 5 min
Get on a bus from Kyoto Sta.
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.206 (Kyoto Sta. [A3]) and get off Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：206/Bound for Kitaoji Bus Terminal Via Daitokuji Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta. [A3]
Alighting bus stop：Daitokuji-mae (Daitokuji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 35 min
Take a taxi
From Kyoto Station：About 3,200 yen (20 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：About 3,000 yen (20 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 Soken-in
How did you like it?
Have a nice trip!
