Highlights of Daitoku-ji
Daitoku-ji is the head temple of the Daitoku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. It was founded by Sōhō Myōchō at the end of the Kamakura period. The temple brings together the histories of Zen, Sengoku-era warriors, and the tea ceremony, including its revival by Ikkyū Sōjū, the funeral of Oda Nobunaga held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and stories surrounding tea master Sen no Rikyū and the Sanmon Gate.
Sanmon Gate “Kinmōkaku”
The vermilion-lacquered Sanmon Gate had its second floor completed by Sen no Rikyū and was named Kōmōkaku. It is said that placing a statue of Rikyū on the upper floor angered Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was one of the factors that led to Rikyū’s seppuku.
Seven temple complexes and subtemples
A stone-paved path leads to a gate surrounded by earthen walls, with snow remaining on the tiled roofs and hedges. Subtemples with similar gates and earthen walls are scattered around the main temple buildings, and their individual entrances continue along the approach.
Connection to the Tea Ceremony
Daitokuji has deep connections with Ikkyū Sōjun, Sen no Rikyū, and the warriors of the Sengoku period, while its subtemples preserve tea houses and dry landscape gardens. The temple and its surroundings retain a culture tied to Zen and the tea ceremony, including Daitokuji natto and aburimochi, a traditional sweet passed down for generations in front of the gate.
Basic information about Daitoku-ji
The information below was checked against official sources on September 30, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official information
- Find an overview of Daitoku-ji’s history, temple buildings, and areas that are usually open or closed to visitors.
大徳寺｜【京都市公式】京都観光Navi観光スポット・サービス情報。京都にある観光情報をカテゴリ別にご用意しました。行きたいスポットへは、エリアで検索できる機能が便利です。ja.kyoto.travel - 📍 Location
- Daitokuji-chō, Murasino, Kita Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture53
- 🕐 Visiting hours
- You can walk through the temple grounds, but the main temple area is normally closed to the public. Visiting hours for the open subtemples vary by temple.
- 💴 Admission
- Walking around the grounds is free. Open subtemples and special openings each require their own admission fee.
- ⏱ Time required
- Allow approximately 1 hours30 minutes to 2 hours to visit the grounds and one open subtemple; allow half a day for several subtemples.⚠️ The time required varies depending on the number of open subtemples and the areas available to visitors.
Getting to Daitokuji Temple
Bus
From the Kyoto Station area, take a Kyoto City Bus route such as 206 and get off at the Daitokuji-mae stop. From the stop, you can walk to the temple grounds.
Subway and Buses
From the Kitaōji Bus Terminal at Kitaōji Station on the Karasuma Line of the Kyoto Subway, you can take city buses on routes 205, 206 and others to Daitokuji-mae.
Daitokuji Side Trip
A snowman wearing a conical hat and holding a staff stood in front of the gate.
Snow rabbits of various sizes with bamboo leaves for ears.
For attractions, transport and suggested itineraries, see “Kyoto: A guide to attractions, food, transportation, and suggested itineraries”.
