A complete guide to Enkoji temple in Kyoto
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Overview
Enkoji is a 400-year-old temple located in the north-east of Kyoto. It's possibly the most beautiful temple I've ever encountered for autumn leaves in Japan, the design of the garden and its various features is truly stunning.
One of the best aspects of Enkoji is the online reservation system for "special viewing" during the peak autumn period, which occurs from mid-November to early December. They limit the amount of visitors to ensure you get an authentic experience without being overwhelmed by too many people.
The temple is known for its artistic history, captivating garden design, and unique ornaments. Some notable features include stone lanterns, jizo statues, a koi pond, a bamboo forest, and a rock garden.
There's also a beautiful suikinkutsu (sui-kin-kutsu) - a musical ornament that uses natural elements to create interesting sounds. The Enkoji suikinkutsu involves an upside-down pot buried in the ground with a small hole in its base, as water droplets slowly fall through the hole, a soothing sound reverberates, representing the tranquil Zen atmosphere of the temple.
Table of Contents
Location & Access
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Enkoji is a little out of the way, located beyond the Kamogawa river delta in north-east Kyoto. For public transport, the total travel time from Sanjo station in downtown Kyoto and Gion (including walking) is 37 minutes by bus or 31 minutes by train. Other options include renting a bicycle or catching a taxi.
During the peak autumn season in November, you can only access Enkoji by making a reservation on their website. This is to prevent overcrowding and ensure the temple remains peaceful.
🕗 Opening Hours
9am - 5pm
🍁 Autumn Leaf Special Viewing
Mid-November to Early-December: 8am - 5pm
Reservation window opens on Oct. 15
Reserve directly from their website: Enkouji.jp
📍 Location
Near Ichioji Station in North-East Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Normal Period: ¥600 per person
Autumn Period Special Viewing: ¥1000 per person
Seasons
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Enkoji is not ideal for cherry blossoms, but does feature a couple of cherry trees
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid-November to early December
☀️ Summer
June - August
Average temp. 32°C
A beautiful option for rainy summer days due to the architecture and garden design
❄️ Winter
Snowfall: 1-3 times per year
Interesting Facts & History
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Founded in 1601 by the shogun Tokugawa Leyasu who was the first shogun responsible for the Edo Period(1603-1868).
Published numerous books, the original printing blocks have been preserved and are on display at the temple, they're recognised as the oldest wooden printing blocks in Japan.
The temple was the site of the Rakuyo School which became known as an open-minded place of learning, attracting an unconventional crowd of artists and writers.
Nearby Attractions
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Enkoji is located near two other interesting temples, Shisendo and Tanukidani.
Similar to Enkoji, Shisendo is popular for its beautiful garden that comes alive during autumn, although not as spectacular, it's still very beautiful and worth the visit considering it's only a 2-minute walk from Enkoji.
Tanukidani however, is a different vibe from most temples in Kyoto. It's a Shugendo temple built into the mountainside, so you'll spend 5 minutes surrounded by the forest while climbing 250 steps to reach the main building. The temple itself is dedicated to the Tanuki (a native Japanese raccoon dog) which is thought to bring good fortune, with hundreds of Tanuki statues scattered around the temple grounds.
