Relax in two gardens and a water chime at Enkoji Temple!
Hello! I'm Mo, a female college student. Not long ago, I used to visit a lot of Kyoto's shrines and temples, as well as places with beautiful scenery such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, but recently, times have changed, so I've been basking in the memories of places I've been to before (lol). Kyoto is a really mysterious place, and in addition to the various temples and shrines, there are also famous cherry blossom and autumn leaf spots, which makes it really interesting. Each place has its own unique character, so the more you get to know it, the deeper it becomes!!!
Well, this time I would like to explain about Enkoji Temple, but do you all know about this temple???
It's quite famous, isn't it!!!
I didn't know anything about Enkoji Temple. So I decided to go there!!! I've put together this article about my impressions after my visit!
This time, I would like to explain Enkoji Temple in a simple and easy-to-understand way!
Please stay with us until the end!
【table of contents】
What is Enkoji Temple?
The charm of Enkoji Temple
・Famous for its Instagrammable beauty! "Jugyu-no-niwa"
・The dragon is moving!!?? "Running Dragon Garden"
・Feel cool with the Suikinkutsu
How to get to Enkoji Temple
What is Enkoji Temple?
Enkoji Temple is a temple located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Speaking of Enkoji Temple, the most famous thing is the "Jugyu-no-niwa" garden! This garden is especially famous for its picturesque and mesmerizing autumn foliage.
But personally, I love "BonRyutei"!!!
Enkoji Temple also has a suikinkutsu (water chimes) that emits soothing sounds!!!
If you want to spend some relaxing time, I highly recommend Enkoji Temple!
Near Enkoji Temple is Shisendo Jozanji Temple, whose garden can be enjoyed throughout the seasons and is highly recommended!
Enkoji Temple was a temple that also functioned as a school and was opened by Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was originally located in Tochigi, near Fushimi Castle, but is now located near Shisendo Temple.
Enkoji Temple preserves the oldest wooden movable type in Japan, which was used at that time.
You can also see the "Rain, Bamboo and Wind Screen" by Maruyama Okyo.
The wooden type and the "Rain, Bamboo, Wind and Bamboo Screen" are designated as Important Cultural Properties!
The charm of Enkoji Temple
・Famous for its Instagrammable beauty! "Jugyu-no-niwa"
"Jugyu no Niwa" is one of the most popular spots in Enkoji Temple!!!
I liken the pillars to a picture frame when I view the garden.
If you want to take Kyoto-style photos that will look good on Instagram, this is the place!!!
As a result, there are many people in autumn, the most beautiful season.
First of all, don't you think "Jugyu no Niwa" is an interesting name???
Ten cows?! I can't help but think that (laughs).
It actually has a meaning!
The Ten Cows in the "Jugyu no Niwa" Garden are said to represent the path to Zen enlightenment. Perhaps you'll discover something if you just stare at the garden for a long time!
Just staring at it calms the mind.
Nature is the best!!! If you're tired from your daily life or want to take a break, head to Enkoji Temple's "Jugyu-no-Niwa"!!!
・The dragon is moving!!?? "Running Dragon Garden"
Enkoji Temple has a dry landscape garden like other temples, but it is a little different.
A modern dry landscape garden. I've never seen anything like it before. The stones are arranged in a circle.
As the name "Running Dragon Garden" suggests, the stones are arranged as if they are moving, giving the garden a sense of dynamism. No retaining stones are used, and the dragon is depicted as moving freely and unrestrained in the garden.
At first glance, it seems like a mysterious and interesting garden, but once you understand the meaning behind it representing a dragon, you can enjoy it from a different perspective.
・Feel cool with the Suikinkutsu
Enkoji Temple has something perfect for summer. It is a water chime cave.
A suikinkutsu is a device that makes water droplets resonate in a hollow space in the ground. You can enjoy the cool sound that it produces. Hearing this sound on a hot summer day will make you feel like the heat is flying away.
The healing effect is incredible!!!
On a hot summer day, come and listen to the sounds of the Suikinkutsu at Enkoji Temple!
How to get to Enkoji Temple
We will show you how to get to Enkoji Temple, located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City.
There are several ways to get to Enkoji Temple from JR Kyoto Station using public transportation, but I personally recommend taking the city bus.
From "Kyoto Station", take city bus No. 5 and get off at Ichijoji Shimogurimatsucho. From here, it's about a 10-minute walk to your destination, Enkoji Temple. The ride takes about 50 minutes. So, if you go from Kyoto Station to Enkoji Temple, it takes about an hour. City bus No. 5 comes about every 10 minutes.
If you find it difficult to walk or your legs are tired, we recommend taking a taxi.
By taxi, it takes about 30 minutes from Kyoto Station.
Nearby are Shisendo Jozanji Temple and Konpukuji Temple, and a little further away is Shugakuin Imperial Villa. We recommend visiting these places in addition to Enkoji Temple!
The official website of Enkoji Temple is here: https://www.enkouji.jp/
If you are going to visit the wonderful place, Kyoto, we recommend renting a kimono!!
Kimono rental shop VASARA is based in Kyoto and is popular with people of all ages.
Kimono Rental VASARA Kyoto Station Store
https://vasara-h.co.jp/shop/detail.html?id=20
We help many customers dress and style their hair 365 days a year, so our skilled staff can transform you into a beautiful person in a short time! Our staff will dress you in a kimono beautifully to fit each person's body. Also, at VASARA Kimono Rental, we not only dress you in the kimono but also do your hair, so there's no need to go to a beauty salon! You'll get a cute hairstyle that suits you and a beautiful dressing! With this, you too may become a beautiful woman in a kimono or yukata ❤❤
If you are interested, please check out the plans, prices, and kimono list!
Plans and Prices
Kimono list
