A complete guide to Tofukuji temple in Kyoto
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Overview
Tofukuji is an 800-year-old (est. 1236) temple located in eastern Kyoto, a little north of Fushimi Inari. It's a large temple complex famous for its autumn leaves and becomes especially busy when the leaves reach their peak around late November. It features beautiful moss gardens, hundreds of maple trees, and the popular Tsutenkyo bridge - a 100-meter-long bridge elevated above the maple trees.
There are 3 sections of Tofukuji, the free temple grounds that feature a massive sanmon gate, the Tsutenkyo Bridge and main temple buildings (Kaisando Hall), and the artfully designed Hojo Garden.
Table of Contents
Location & Access
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Tofukuji Temple is easily accessed from Gion, Downtown Kyoto, or Kyoto Station using the subway. It's only a short train ride to reach Tofukuji Station and only a 6-minute walk to the temple from there.
🕗 Opening Hours
Normal Hours: 9am - 4pm (8:30am during November)
Morning & Evening Autumn Reservations: 730am, and 5:30pm
For autumn reservations click here
📍 Location
Tofukuji Station, Eastern Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Tsutenkyo Bridge - Normal Period: ¥600 per person
Tsutenkyo Bridge - Autumn Period: ¥1000 per person
Hojo Garden: ¥500 per person
Seasons
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Tofukuji is not known for its cherry blossoms
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid to Late November
☀️ Summer
June - August (rainy season)
Rainy days are perfect for the Hojo Moss Garden
Average temp. 32°C
❄️ Winter
December - February
Snowfall: 1-3 times per year
Temple Grounds and Sanmon Gate
Image Source: Fg2 on Wikipedia, CC.
The free temple grounds before entering Tsutenkyo Bridge or Hojo Garden contain a huge temple building, a massive sanmon gate, and often host small market stalls. The sanmon gate is incredibly impressive, it was originally constructed 600 years ago and stands at 22 meters tall. During November, you're allowed to enter the gate, which is highly recommended, the interior is a time capsule and the views are beautiful.
Tsutenkyo Bridge
Image Source: Tofukuji.jp
The Tsutenkyo Bridge area is the largest section of Tofukuji temple, this is where you'll find hundreds of maple trees, various temple buildings and moss gardens, and the Kaisando Hall building. The bridge is nearly 100 meters long and was originally built in 1380, although it has been rebuilt numerous times since then.
Hojo Garden
Image Source: Hiro2006 on Wikipedia, CC.
The Hojo Garden is a collection of 4 stunning Zen gardens designed by the masterful landscape architect Mirei Shigamori. It was completed in 1939, it was his first major work and it was based on concepts that were revolutionary at the time. His stunning designs led him to become the most famous garden architect of 20th-century Japan. The Hojo is a temple building originally used as a residence for monks.
Interesting Facts & History
Originally founded in 1236 by the powerful Fujiwara clan.
The name Tofukuji comes from combining the names of two famous temples in Nara, Todaiji and Kofukuji.
From 1904-1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, the temple grounds were requisitioned and became a prisoner-of-war camp for Russians.
The 22-meter tall sanmon gate is the oldest Zen sanmon in Japan, originally built in 1425.
Nearby Attractions
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
There are numerous sub-temples around Tofukuji and it's only a 15-minute walk from the Fushimi Inari shrine. The walk is fairly enjoyable as it meanders through some nice and quiet streets, giving you a sense of local life in Kyoto.
