Daikaku-ji

Temple

Part of Arashiyama

Prefecture

Kyoto

Type

Temple

N/A

0 reviews

¥500

Entry Fee

Train Access

About This Destination

A former imperial palace turned Shingon temple, famous for Osawa Pond, Japan's oldest artificial garden lake. The sprawling grounds and elegant corridors connect multiple halls. Especially beautiful during autumn foliage and the harvest moon viewing.

Once an imperial villa for Emperor Saga, this grand Shingon temple preserves the elegance of Heian-period aristocratic life alongside Japan's oldest artificial garden pond. Osawa Pond, created over 1,200 years ago for moon-viewing parties, reflects the surrounding cherry trees and autumn maples in its still waters. The temple's extensive halls connected by wooden corridors display sliding screen paintings by the Kano school, while the annual Kangetsu no Yube moon-viewing festival recreates imperial traditions on boats illuminated by paper lanterns.

Location

Prefecture: Kyoto

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Nearest Station: Saga-Arashiyama Station

Best time to visit: Mid to late November for autumn maples around Osawa Pond, and the September Kangetsu-e moon-viewing boat festival; the historic pond garden is serene year-round

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Daikaku-ji?

From JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, take Kyoto City Bus #28 (or walk 20 minutes northeast) to 'Daikakuji' bus stop. By bicycle, it's a flat 15-minute ride from Arashiyama through quiet residential streets, popular for visitors who rented a bike. Daikaku-ji is on the northern edge of the Sagano area, well past the bamboo grove and Otagi Nenbutsu-ji.

What's the entry fee for Daikaku-ji?

Adult admission for the temple buildings is 500 yen, and a separate 300 yen ticket lets you walk around Osawa Pond. A combined ticket for both is 700 yen, strongly recommended since the pond is one of the highlights. Photography in most halls is allowed; flash photography is not. Cash and major credit cards accepted. Open daily 9 AM to 5 PM (last admission 4:30 PM).

When is the best time to visit Daikaku-ji?

Early to mid-November for autumn foliage reflected in Osawa Pond, one of Kyoto's quietly best spots. Early April for cherry blossoms around the pond. The annual Kangetsu no Yube Moon Viewing Festival in mid-September features Heian-style boats with paper lanterns recreating imperial court traditions on the pond, magical but reservation-required and very crowded. Mornings are quietest year-round.

What can I combine with a Daikaku-ji visit?

Combine with Osawa Pond's Daikakuji shogun-trail walk and the nearby Seiryo-ji Temple (a 15-minute walk south, also free outside the main hall). Otagi Nenbutsu-ji with its 1,200 stone rakan is about 10 minutes by bus or 25 minutes' walk further west. The Sagano Romantic Train's Torokko Saga station is a 25-minute walk south. This northern Sagano route gives a much quieter Arashiyama experience than the main bamboo grove area.