Tentoku-in Temple is a temple of the Rinzai sect Tofuku-ji School located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City.
Tofuku-ji is one of the Japan’s biggest Zen temple, the fourth of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto, and Tentoku-in is one of the sub-temple of Tofuku-ji.
It is usually not open to the public except for limited periods in the early summer and fall.
There is the dry landscape garden completely covered in hair moss and the Chinese bellflowers.
So, it is called the temple of flowers (chinese bellflowers) in Kyoto.
History of Tentoku-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
Tentoku-in was built in the Shohei era (1346-1370) by Mumu Issei who was the 30th chief priest of Tofuku-ji Temple.
It was initially considered as one of the five sub-temple of Tofuku-ji, but has been demolished in the Edo period by intention of Ieyasu TOKUGAWA.
So, the existing hall being rebuilt at the end of the 18th century.
Information for visitors
It is not ordinarily open to the public.
(Specially opened around June, July, November and December each year.)
Website
Information
Address：15-802, Hommachi, Kyoto Shi Higashiyama Ku, Kyoto Fu, 605-0981, Japan
Phone：+81-75-561-5239
Foundation：Shohei era (1346 – 1370)
Founder：Mumu Issei (無夢一清)
Sect：Rinzai sect Tofuku-ji School (臨済宗東福寺派)
Principal image：Senju Kannon (千手観音)
■Open
10:00 – 16:00
*Only open to the public on specific days in early summer and autumn.
■Admission Fee
| Adults | 500 yen |
| Junior and senior high school students | 300 yen |
■Other information
Please ask temple’s staff where you can take photos and videos.
The worship method of a shinto shrine and a buddhist temple, please refer to the following article.
Next, let’s go to see the highlights of this temple with me!
Highlights of Tentoku-in
- 山門:San-mon gate
- 慈母観音:Jibo (affectionate mother) Kannon
- 方丈*:Hojo hall*
- 方丈前庭*:Hojo front garden*
- 方丈西庭*:Hojo west garden*
- 華灯窓*:Kato-mado windows*
- 荻原井泉水句碑*:Ogiwara Seisensui Verse Monument*
- 花岡大学童話碑*:Hanaoka University Nursery Tale Monument*
This mark 「*」 is a pay area.
山門:San-mon gate
慈母観音:Jibo (affectionate mother) Kannon
There is Kannon image called ‘Jibo (affectionate mother) Kannon’ near the gate.
方丈*:Hojo hall*
This building was rebuilt in 1789 of the Edo period.
A chinese character called ‘Hojo (方丈)’ is written in the picture.
方丈前庭*:Hojo front garden*
There is the dry landscape garden completely covered in hair moss and the Chinese bellflowers.
方丈西庭*:Hojo west garden*
華灯窓*:Kato-mado windows*
This window is called Kato-mado (specially shaped windows with many s-shaped curves found in a Zen temple).
The scenery of the garden to see from a window is beautiful.
荻原井泉水句碑*:Ogiwara Seisensui Verse Monument*
Ogiwara Seisensui is a haiku poet who played an active part from Meiji to Showa.
‘ishi no shitashisa yo shigure keri (石のしたしさよ しぐれけり)’
花岡大学童話碑*:Hanaoka Daigaku Nursery Tale Monument*
Hanaoka Daigaku is a writer of stories for children who played an active part from Meiji to Showa.
Chinese bellflowers of Tentoku-in
The garden of this temple is famous for its chinese bellflowers.
The best season of chinese bellflowers is early summer.
Video of Tentoku-in
Photos of Tentoku-in
Goshuin (Red ink stamps) of Tentoku-in
Tentoku-in’s red ink stamp (goshuin) , ‘Senju Kannon (千手観音)’.
How to get to Tentoku-in
The nearest station is Keihan or JR Tofukuji Station.
It is about 15 minutes on foot from Tofukuji station.
You also can go by bus from Kyoto Station, Gion-Shijo Station and Kawaramachi Station.
We recommend using a train.
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 Umeda 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 Station (on foot)
It is about 15 minutes (700m) on foot from Tofukuji Station.
Get on a bus from Kyoto Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a bus No.208 (bus stop D2).
[Timetable] Kyoto City Bus No. 208
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.208 [Bound for Tofukuji Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D2]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 15 min
Get on a bus from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a bus No.207 (bus stop E).
[Timetable] Kyoto City Bus No. 207
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.207 [Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Kawaramachi [E]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 19 min
Get on a bus from Keihan Gion-shijo Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a bus No.207 (bus stop 2).
[Timetable] Kyoto City Bus No. 207
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.207 [Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Keihan-mae[2]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 17 min
Take a taxi
From Kyoto Station：about 1100 yen (10 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：about 1500 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 company (around the Kyoto Station) *Japanese text only.
Hotel search & reservation
How did you like it?
Have a nice trip! XD
