Tofuku

Tofuku-ji Autumn colours

The oldest Zen temple gate in Japan is located at Tofuku-ji in Kyoto. It was built in 1425 and is now designated a National Treasure. However, that is not the only attraction of the head temple of the Tofukuji School of the Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism.

Tofuku-ji Autumn

The original buildings were constructed in 1236 at the request of Kuji Michiie, a powerful statesman, and rebuilt in the 15^th century after a series of fires. Several of the structures remain from that time, though the main Buddha hall was rebuilt after another fire in the Meiji Period.

The Art of Preserving One’s Own Culture and Heritage X (KYOTO/JAPAN/TOFUKU-JI)

            The Tofuku-ji temple complex is built on a hill divided by a valley spanned by three bridges. It is lovely throughout the year, but is most notable as being one of the top places in Japan for viewing fall colors.

Tofuku-ji

The Hojo, or Abbot’s Hall, is surrounded by four gardens that face the ordinal directions. Take your time to enjoy the arrangements of rocks, sand and greenery, which was all designed with symbolic meanings. The Zen garden representing the Hokutō Shichisei which has old cylindrical rocks previously used as foundations for some temple buildings are beautifully used here.

Visitors are welcome to relax on the benches while contemplating the scenery. In a different section there is a stunning bridge and mausoleum. Because of the steep hill, the grounds are not all easy to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair.

Tofuku-ji

Some of the grounds at Tofuku-ji are free, but the Hojo and gardens cost 400 yen for adults or 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students. The Tsutenkyo Bridge and mausoleum also have a separate fee of 400 yen for adults or 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Tofuku-ji is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm from April to October, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from November to early December, and from 9 am to 4 pm from late December through March. It is about a 10 minute walk from Tofukuji Station on the JR Nara line, or 15 minutes from the Tofukuji Bust Stop on Kyoto City Bus line #208.

For more information: http://www.tofukuji.jp/english.html

photos by: Chi King & KimonBerlin, underutilized