A complete guide to the Sanzen-in temple in Ohara, Kyoto
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Overview
Sanzen-in is a 1200-year-old temple complex (est. 804) in the town of Ohara, located about 1 hour away from Kyoto by bus. The town is quite charming and the walk to the temple is lined with lovely restaurants and shops catering to visitors coming to see the temple. Sanzen-in is well-known for its moss gardens, jizo statues, and preserved buildings. It's especially popular during autumn thanks to the beautiful autumn leaves found throughout the temple grounds. The autumn leaves at Sanzen-in typically reach their peak around mid to late November, about a week earlier than central Kyoto. The temple also features a tea room framing a zen garden, where visitors can enjoy matcha for a small fee. Sanzenin is one of the few temples whose founding priests used to be members of the imperial family.
Table of Contents
Location & Access
Sanzen-in is located northeast of Kyoto city and requires a bus for public transport access.
🕗 Opening Hours
9:00am - 5:00pm (Last Entry 4:30pm)
📍 Location
Ohara, North-East Kyoto (Google Maps)
A little over 1 hour from Kyoto
💴 Entry Price
¥700 per person
Seasons
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Late March to early April
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid-November to early December
☀️ Summer
June - August
Known for hydrangeas
Average temp. 32°C
❄️ Winter
Snowfall. 1-3 times per year.
Interesting Facts & History
Originally founded in 804.
Known as a monzeki temple, where members of the Imperial family traditionally served as the head priests.
Features a tea room overlooking the garden and serving matcha tea.
Jizo statues decorate the moss garden and are said to be the protectors of travellers and children.
Nearby Attractions
The most common inclusion for a trip to Sanzen-in is planning for lunch at one of the nice restaurants located on the way to the temple. The town of Ohara also contains a few smaller temples, the most popular of which is Jakko-in.
