Shoren-in Temple

Information

Shoren-in Temple was originally the residence of a priest of the Tendai school of Buddhism moved from Mt. Hiei-zan to the current location. The temple is also referred to as "Awata Gosho (Awata Palace)" because Retired Empress Go-Sakuramachi evacuated to this temple in Awata when the imperial palace was on fire in 1788. The present Shin-den hall, the largest building in the temple, is a reconstruction from the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912), but the hall has sliding screens with paintings called "Hamamatsu-zu (images of seashores and pine trees)" from the 16th and 17th centuries. These sliding screens are now designated as important cultural properties.
Unlike other temples and shrines in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, this is a quiet and pleasant place to sit and think while gazing out over the two beautiful Japanese gardens - a Chisen-Kaiyu style garden centered around the Ryushin-chi Pond designed by Soami and "Kirishima Garden" with Kirishima azalea designed by Kobori Enshu. The giant 800 year-old camphor trees growing just out side the walls serve as a landmark of the temple. It is uncertain, but these trees are said to have been planted by Shinran.
The temple is beautifully illuminated at night during the special periods in spring and autumn.

Opening Hours

• 9:00 - 17:00 *admission until 30 minutes before closing
• Illumination: 18:00 - 22:00 *admission until 30 minutes before closing

Closed

• Irregular

Price / Entrance Fee

• 500 yen (General, Adult)
• 400 yen (Student)
• 200 yen (Child)
• Illumination: 800 yen (General, Adult); 400 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

• 5 minutes walk from Higashiyama Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line (T10)
• 17 minutes from JR Kyoto Station by the #206 bus. Get off at Jingu-michi Bus stop.

Related Links

• Shorenin Temple

Address / Location

• 69-1, Awadaguchi Sanjobocho, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0035

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Notes