Tenkyu-in Temple (天球院) is one of sub-temples (塔頭:tatchu) of Myoshin-ji (妙心寺) which is located in Hanazono, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Myoshin-ji, the head temple of this temple, 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.
Tenkyu-in Temple is only open to the public on specific days (not fixed).
It was constructed in the early Edo period of 1631-1635 by the former lord of the Okayama domain, Mitsumasa IKEDA (池田光政).
There are the great fusuma paintings drawn by Sanraku KANO (狩野山楽) and Sansetsu KANO (狩野山雪) who were the leader of Kyo-Gano (the Kyoto branch of the Kano School) in the main hall of this temple.
History of Tenkyu-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
Tenkyu-in Temple (天球院) is one of 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.
It was constructed in the early Edo period of 1631-1635 by the former lord of the Okayama domain, Mitsumasa IKEDA (池田光政).
He is said to have built this temple for Tenkyu-in (天久院), his grand-aunt.
By the way, his uncle is Terumasa IKEDA (池田輝政) who carried out a large scale renovation of the Himeji-jo Castle from 1601 to 1609.
When this temple was built, many sacred balls were dug out from the temple grounds.
Because Tenkyu (天球) has the meaning of a sacred ball in Japanese, this temple was named Tenkyu-in (天球院).
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 the Special admission in the winter of 2019.
Information
Address：46, Hanazono Myoshinjicho, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 616-8035, Japan
Phone Number：+81- 75-462-9041
Foundation：1631 – 1635
Founder：Mitsumasa IKEDA (池田光政)
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 Tenkyu-in
- 山門(San-mon Gate)
- 本堂:重要文化財*(Hon-do Hall:Important Cultural Property)*
- 方丈庭園*(Hojo Garden)*
- 境内*(Precincts of the temple)*
This mark ‘*‘ is a pay area.
山門(San-mon Gate)
San-mon Gate, at the entrance of an approach to the temple.
It was built in the Edo period.
本堂*(Hon-do Hall : Important Cultural Property)*
Hon-do Hall is the building in the early Edo period.
This building is designated as an important cultural property.
There are the great fusuma paintings drawn by Sanraku KANO (狩野山楽) and Sansetsu KANO (狩野山雪) who were the leader of Kyo-Gano (the Kyoto branch of the Kano School) in the main hall of this temple.
These are now all digital reproduction products.
Chikko-zu (竹虎図, painting of bamboo and tiger). [Important Cultural Property]
Chikko-zu (梅花遊禽図, plum tree and bird images). [Important Cultural Property]
方丈庭園*(Hojo Garden)*
Hojo Garden is a dry landscape garden which has the arrangement of stones and moss.
境内*(Precincts of the temple)*
Entrance of the temple.
Shape of the sacred balls is designed in the precincts of the temple.
Courtyard in the west of the Hon-do Hall.
Video of Tenkyu-in
Photos of Tenkyu-in
Goshuin (red ink stamp) of Tenkyu-in
Goshuin of this temple is “Shaka Nyorai (釈迦如来)” which is the principal image of this temple.
We can get it in the Hon-do Hall.
How to get to Tenkyu-in
Tenkyu-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
Time required：About 42 min
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
How did you like it?
Have a nice trip!
