Name: Tōfuku-ji Temple
Address: 15-chōme-778 Honmachi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
Telephone: 075-561-0087
Rating: 4.4

Large Buddhist temple established in 1236 on scenic grounds with gardens known for fall foliage.

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Tōfuku-ji Temple was founded in 1236 by the powerful Fujiwara clan, making it a significant historical landmark.

Year of Founding

Tōfuku-ji is renowned for its breathtaking autumn foliage, particularly the view from the Tsutenkyo Bridge spanning a valley of maple trees.

Famous for Fall Colors

Tōfuku-ji is a prominent Zen temple, serving as the head temple of its own school within the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.

Zen Buddhist Temple

Beyond the main temple, Tōfuku-ji boasts several sub-temples, including Ryogin-an and Funda-in, which are often considered even more captivating than the main structure.

Hidden Gems

The temple features a 100-meter-long covered walkway, offering a picturesque stroll through the serene surroundings.

Covered Walkway

Tōfuku-ji Temple

Tōfuku-ji, a prominent Zen temple in Kyoto, distinguishes itself through its expansive scale and unique architectural blend. Founded in 1236, its name combines elements from both Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji, reflecting the founder's ambition. The Tsūtenkyō Bridge, a covered walkway traversing a valley of maple trees, is particularly renowned for its vibrant autumn foliage, offering a breathtaking spectacle. Unlike many Zen gardens, Tōfuku-ji's Hōjō garden, designed by Mirei Shigemori in the 20th century, presents a modern interpretation of Zen aesthetics, incorporating geometric patterns and utilizing materials like paving stones and raked gravel to create distinct quadrants representing different Zen themes. A lesser-known fact is the presence of toilet remains dating back to the Muromachi period, considered the oldest extant Zen lavatory in Japan, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of monks centuries ago. The Sanmon gate, the oldest Zen temple gate of its kind in Japan, stands as a testament to the temple's enduring historical significance.

Introduction

Tōfuku-ji's Sanmon Gate, a designated National Treasure, stands as the oldest Zen main gate in Japan, a testament to the temple's enduring historical significance. Completed in 1425 after reconstruction from fire damage, this two-storied structure soars to a height of 22 meters, dominating the temple landscape. Its construction uniquely applies the Great Buddha's building method, contributing to its reputation as one of the grandest Zen Buddhist temple gates.

The gate's nameplate is attributed to Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi, adding to its cultural prestige. Inside, the ceilings feature paintings by renowned artists Chō Densu and Kan Densu, while the sculptures of Buddha and sixteen Buddhist Monks are believed to be the work of the Buddhist Teichō. In 1969, the Sanmon Gate underwent extensive restoration, a meticulous project that lasted nearly nine years and cost $2.5 million, underscoring its importance as a cultural landmark. The Sanmon, meaning "three gates," comprises three entrances symbolizing purification before enlightenment: the kūmon (vacuum door), the musōmon (the door without form), and the muganmon (DO NOT ask for wishes). These represent freedom from greed, hatred, and ignorance, also known as sangedatsumon (the door of the three releases). The Sanmon Gate is the most outstanding of Tōfuku-ji's "Buddhist Temple Features".

Sanmon Gate

Tōfuku-ji, one of Kyoto's Five Great Zen Temples, showcases the modern garden designs of Mirei Shigemori, who revitalized the temple grounds in the 20th century. Shigemori's work is particularly evident in the Hōjō (Abbot’s Quarters) gardens, designed in 1939, which present a contemporary take on traditional Zen gardens. Each of the four gardens surrounding the Hōjō corresponds to a cardinal direction, exhibiting unique features. The southern garden is a classic Zen dry landscape, incorporating stones to represent sacred mountains amid raked sand patterns. To the west, a garden features azalea scrubs and moss arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The eastern garden uniquely uses seven pillars amidst sand and moss to form the shape of Ursa Major, also known as the Big Dipper. The northern garden offers a view of the Tsūten-kyō bridge beyond a quaint pattern of moss and square checks, set against a backdrop of azalea bushes. Shigemori's designs provide a modern renaissance to the art of Japanese garden design within the ancient temple complex. His work integrates traditional Zen elements with modern artistic expression, creating a distinctive landscape that enhances the temple's historical and cultural significance.

Mirei Shigemori Gardens

Tōfuku-ji Temple, a principal Zen temple in Kyoto, showcases significant Zen architectural elements, reflecting its historical importance within the Rinzai sect. Founded in 1236, the temple complex includes several structures dating back to the early Muromachi Period (1333-1573), offering rare examples of surviving Zen architecture. Among these are the meditation hall (zendo), belfry (shoro), bath (yokushitsu), and lavatory (tosu), each designed to facilitate monastic practice and contemplation.

The Sanmon Gate, dating back to 1425, stands as the oldest Zen gate of its kind, marking a transition from the secular to the sacred. The Hojo, the head priest’s former living quarters, exemplifies Zen garden design. Constructed in the late 1930s, the gardens uniquely surround the building on all sides, incorporating pebbles, rocks, moss, and checkered patterns to create distinct contemplative spaces.

The Tsutenkyo Bridge, a covered walkway, connects temple buildings and provides a vantage point for viewing the surrounding maple trees. Daiki-in, a sub-temple within the Tōfuku-ji complex, features exquisite Zen gardens reflecting traditional Japanese landscaping techniques and Zen aesthetics, established during the Muromachi period (1336–1573). These gardens offer serene environments designed to foster contemplation.

Zen Architecture

Tōfuku-ji Temple, one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples, is a prime destination for viewing autumn foliage, drawing visitors from across Japan and the world. The temple is particularly celebrated for the vibrant autumn colors in the Sengyokukan gorge, best viewed from the Tsūtenkyō and Gaunkyō covered bridges. The Tsūtenkyō bridge, in particular, offers a vantage point above a sea of red and orange maple leaves.

Planted with around 2,000 trees, including trident maples brought from China, the grounds transform into a spectacle of warm colors during the autumn months. The view of Tsūtenkyō from Gaunkyō is especially iconic, epitomizing autumn at Tōfuku-ji. While crossing Gaunkyō is free, an admission fee is required to cross Tsūtenkyō, where stopping to take photos is prohibited to manage congestion during peak season.

Beyond the bridges, other spots within Tōfuku-ji offer unique autumn vistas, such as the monument inscribed with a poem attributed to Kūkai and the kyōzō sutra repository. The gardens are also known for their moss, which provides a contrasting backdrop to the fallen maple leaves. The autumn foliage season here typically extends from November into early December, known as the longest-lasting in Kyoto. Despite potential crowds, particularly during peak season, Tōfuku-ji remains a must-visit location for experiencing the beauty of autumn in Kyoto.

Tōfuku-ji Temple

Did You Know?

Year of Founding

Famous for Fall Colors

Zen Buddhist Temple

Hidden Gems

Highlights from Reviews

Location