# Kozan-ji

> A UNESCO World Heritage temple in the cedars at Toganoo, revived by the monk Myoe in 1206, known for the Choju-giga animal scrolls and a tea garden said to be Japan's oldest.

- Prefecture: Kyoto
- Type: Temple
- Address: Kyoto, Japan
- Admission: 800 yen
- Official site: https://kosanji.com/

Kozan-ji stands in a cedar forest at Toganoo, a few minutes further up the valley from Takao and part of the World Heritage listing for the monuments of ancient Kyoto. The monk Myoe was given the land by a retired emperor in 1206 and made the temple what it is; his small meditation hut and his portrait sitting in a forked pine are among the things people come for. The building to pay for is Sekisui-in, a National Treasure hall with an open veranda framing the trees. It is also where you see the Choju-giga, the twelfth and thirteenth century scrolls of rabbits, frogs and monkeys behaving like people, often called the ancestor of manga. Be clear about what you are looking at: the originals are held by the Tokyo and Kyoto National Museums, and what hangs here is a reproduction. Myoe is also credited with planting tea from seeds brought by Eisai, and the small plot below the temple is described as Japan's oldest tea garden. The grounds are free to walk for most of the year, with an entry fee only in the autumn foliage weeks.

## FAQ

### Can I see the real Choju-giga scrolls here?

No. The four original scrolls are held by the Tokyo National Museum and the Kyoto National Museum, and what is displayed at Sekisui-in is a faithful reproduction. That is worth knowing before you make the trip out, though seeing them in the hall they belong to, with the forest through the open veranda, is a different experience from a museum case.

### What does it cost?

Sekisui-in costs 800 yen for adults and is open year round, roughly 8:30 to 17:00. The grounds themselves are free to walk for most of the year, with a separate entry fee of about 500 yen during the autumn foliage weeks.

### Should I combine Kozan-ji with Jingo-ji?

Yes. They are two stops apart on the same JR bus, with Makinoo in between, and walkable along the valley road. The buses are infrequent enough that going all the way out for one temple is poor value. Do Jingo-ji first while your legs are fresh, since it is the one with 400 steps, then walk up to Kozan-ji.

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Source: Kozan-ji — Japan Voyage