Jingo-ji

Temple

Last updated August 17, 2026 Reviewed by the Japan Voyage editorial team

Prefecture

Kyoto

Type

Temple

N/A

0 reviews

¥1,000

Entry Fee

About This Destination

A mountain temple of 824 above the Kiyotaki gorge, reached by about 400 stone steps, where visitors throw clay discs off the cliff to shed misfortune.

Jingo-ji sits high above the Kiyotaki river in Takao, northwest of the city and far enough out that the buses thin to a handful an hour. From the Takao bridge the approach is about 400 stone steps, roughly a 20 minute climb, and that climb is the reason the temple stays quiet even in leaf season. The temple dates to 824, formed by merging two earlier temples, and it was where Kukai lived for years after returning from China; Saicho lectured here too. Its treasures are exceptional for a mountain temple: a National Treasure standing Yakushi Nyorai of the late 8th or early 9th century, the Five Great Kokuzo Bosatsu seated in the pagoda, and a bell of 875 whose inscription is counted among the finest in Japan. Most visitors, though, remember the kawarake-nage: from the Jizo-in terrace at the far edge of the grounds you throw small unglazed clay discs out over the gorge, taking your misfortune with them. The practice is said to have started here. Takao's maples turn a week or two before those in the city, which is worth knowing if you arrive in mid-November and find central Kyoto still green.

Location

Prefecture: Kyoto

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Nearest Station: Yamashiro Takao bus stop

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: A few teahouses on the approach sell noodles and sweets, and in summer some set up kawadoko platforms over the river. Bring water for the climb.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost and when is it open?

Adult admission is 1,000 yen, the highest of the Kyoto temples in this area, and children pay 500 yen. Open 9:00 to 16:00, with last admission shortly before closing. Cash only. Allow about 90 minutes including the climb, and note that the last buses back run early.

How hard is the climb?

Roughly 400 stone steps, about 20 minutes at a steady pace, with a descent to the river first. The steps are uneven and there is no lift or alternative route. Sensible shoes matter more here than at any other temple in this guide, and in summer you will want water.

What is kawarake-nage?

You buy a pair of small unglazed clay discs and throw them from the Jizo-in terrace out over the Kiyotaki gorge, which is said to carry your misfortune away with them. Jingo-ji is regarded as where the practice began. The terrace is at the far end of the grounds, past the main hall, and the view alone justifies the walk.

When do the leaves turn in Takao?

Usually the second week of November through early December, a week or two ahead of central Kyoto because of the altitude. That gap is the point: if you arrive mid-November and the city is still green, Takao is already at its best.