【Kita Ward, Kyoto】Toji-in Temple: An important temple dedicated to the worship of the gods of the direction, a garden and teahouse based on Onmyoji philosophy

Toji-in Temple is a temple of the Tenryu-ji sect of the Rinzai sect located in Kita-ku, Kyoto. It is the family temple of the Ashikaga Shogunate and an important temple for the Japanese belief in direction gods. The history can be traced back to 1341, when Ashikaga Takauji invited the Shogun of the God of the North from Nara in order to protect Heian-kyo, and this temple was founded by Muso Sasuseki. The name of Toji-in comes from the Dharma name of the general, "Tōjì," which means "one who waits for the Dharma." Toji-in Temple is the cemetery of the Ashikaga shogunate. It houses the tomb towers of Ashikaga Takauji and the other twelve shoguns, as well as wooden statues of the third Ashikaga shogun. These statues were beheaded during the Warring States Period and were later restored. The main hall of Toji-in Temple is an important cultural property, and houses a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and a portrait of Muso Soseki. The garden of Toji-in Temple is one of the famous gardens in Japan. It is divided into the front garden and the back garden. The front garden has a pond representing Buddhism, and the back garden has a stone group representing the gods of the directions. The two gardens echo each other and are full of the ideas of Yin and Yang. The tea room of Toji-in Temple was recently built with a modern design and atmosphere, where you can enjoy the temple's special matcha and Japanese confectionery. Toji-in Temple is a temple that showcases Japanese history, culture, and aesthetics, and is suitable for visitors who are interested in Rinzai Buddhism, Houeishin, and Onmyoji. The opening hours of Toji-in Temple are from 5:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. The admission fee is 800 yen, which includes visits to the main hall, gardens, and tea room. The address of Toji-in is 63, Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture. To get there, take the municipal subway Tozai Line to Nijojo-mae Station and then walk for about 15 minutes, or take the municipal bus to Toji-in-mae Station and then walk for about 5 minutes. 📍Japan〒603-8346 Kyoto, Kita Ward, Tojiin Kitamachi, No. 63 #Japan and Korea City Attractions #Weekend Tour #Overseas Tour #Japan Travel