Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)

Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺‎)

Jojakko-ji temple (常寂光寺‎) is a popular place to watch autumn colours in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. It is in fact so popular that it may be impossible to visit it during the high season: the queue to get it is just too damn long!

The temple is located at the foot of the hills, with different parts located at various heights. The lower level is where the entrance is, followed by a short path to a first inner gate. After the gate stairs climb up to the main temple buildings. The stairs covered by maple foliage; this is the most popular part of the temple in autumn. Behind the main hall (hondo - 本堂) is a very small and steep zen garden, but it's so small and "messy" that I wouldn't really call it zen. Anyway.

Further up is a nice pagoda, also surrounded by maple trees. Climb a bit more and you will reach a few other minor buildings, and at the top of the path you will have a nice view of Kyoto. On the way down you can use the "women's path" that starts at the far end (north) of the hondo level, thereby bypassing the main stairs. This path is quite nice in early spring (new green leaves - 青紅葉), and will join the main path just after the gate, at the foot of the main stairs. If you keep going east a bit you will find a small flower garden.

Jojakko-ji is one of the numerous temples that line up at the foot of Arashiyama hills. The nearby streets have interesting art and handicraft shops, some of them being very old. South of Jojakoji is Tenryu-ji (天龍時), the Bamboo Alley (嵯峨竹林) and the Okochi Sanso villa (大河内山荘). Further north you will find the Rakushisha hermitage (落柿舎), Nison-in (二尊院) and Giyou-ji (祇王寺‎).

Recommended for: Access: 500 円

Nearby: Furoan フロアン (130m), the Rakushisha 落柿舎 (190m), Nison-in 二尊院 (220m), the Okochi Sansō villa 大河内山荘 (320m), Shōkaku-ji 正覚寺 (330m), Enri-an 厭離庵 (410m), the Bamboo alley 嵯峨竹林 (420m), Senkō-ji 千光寺 (420m), Takiguchi-dera 滝口寺 (430m), Giyō-ji 祇王寺‎ (460m),...

External links: Website, ウィキペディア, Kyoto Navi, Trip Advisor, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Inside Kyoto, Marutake, そうだ京都, Satellite view, Map

Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, arashiyama, 嵐山, 常寂光寺, Jojako-ji, temple, 寺院, 仏閣

Statistics: visited on 8 occasions, id 275, 22 photos (17 extra photos can be found in the archive).

Photos of Jōjakkō-ji:

Stairway in zen garden, Jojakko-ji (常寂光寺)
Stairway under maple trees in Jojakko-ji (常寂光寺)
Zen garden, Jojakko-ji temple
Jojakko-ji temple gardens
Tourists photographing autumn colours in Jojakko-ji temple
Stone pagoda in autumn, Jojakko-ji temple
Lantern at the main gate of Jojakko-ji temple in autumn, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colors around the entrance gate of Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Pilgrim rope sandals as votive offerings hanged to the main gate of Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Last light in the forest of Jōjakkō-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Red maple trees covering the main stairs of Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Red leafed bush in the garden of Jōjakkō-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn foliage and fallen leaves around the entrance gate to Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Carpet of fallen maple leaves at the end of autumn at the bottom of Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Yellow maple leaves everywhere in the garden of Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Stone pagoda and autumn colours, Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Zabuton waiting for tea drinkers during autumn in Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Fallen autumn leaves in the garden of Jojakko-ji temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Mossy forest covered with fallen maple leaves, Jojakko-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan