Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)

Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)

Daigoji (醍醐寺) is a major temple in the valley east of Higashimaya. Like a few other places in Kyoto it is a UNESCO World Heritage. Although the temple grounds are quite large, interesting sights are limited for the photographer because Sanbo-in is a no-photo zone, and another large part of the lower part of the temple is occupied by a museum. But the Benten-do (弁天堂) alone is worth the visit.

Daigo-ji was founded in 874 by a monk who had a vision when climbing Mt Daigo (called Mt Kasatori at the time). The mountain was sacred, like many mountains in Japan, and Shobo Rigen Daishi promptly decided to carve to statue of Kannon (a Buddhist deity) and enshrine them in a temple at the summit of the mountain. The story and faith spread, and supported by successive emperors Daigo-ji's size grew with the addition of buildings in the mountain and also at its base. Like many temples in Kyoto, fire and war ravaged Daigo-ji several times (Bunmei and Onin wars). Of the original buildings, only the five story pagoda remains. Daigo-ji remained unattended for a long time, until a warlord launched its reconstruction.

Daigo-ji consists in roughly five parts: Sanbo-in (lower north), the museum (lower south), the pagoda and main hall (middle), the famous pond with the Benten-do and, further up, the higher temple area (for which you need a special ticket).

Sanbo-in in a beautiful zen garden (built around 1600), but as photos as prohibited you won't see much about it on the web. For those interested in more details about the artefacts of Daigo-ji, thousands of pieces are on display in the museum. Both Sanbo-in and the museum require a specific entrance fee.

The most popular place in Daigo-ji is the middle section with the five storey pagoda and the Benten-do. If there is one place to visit it's definitely the Benten-do, at least if the season is right (autumn and spring, as usual for Kyoto). I have not yet visited the upper section above Benten-do.

To reach Daigo-ji, go to Yamashina station from Kyoto, then down the Kyoto Subway line to "Daigo" Station. Then follow the other tourists, roughly full east. In the area you will find at least three interesting temples to complete your day trip: Bishamon-ji (毘沙門寺), north of Yamashina station, is great (and very popular!) in autumn, Kaju-ji (勧修寺) and Zuishin-in (隨心院).

Recommended for: Access: 1500 円

Nearby: Zuishin-in 隨心院 (930m), Ichigon-ji 一言寺 (970m)

External links: Website, ウィキペディア, Wikipedia, Wikipédia, Kyoto Navi, Trip Advisor, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Marutake, そうだ京都

Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, 伏見区, Fushimi-ku, Daigo-ji, 醍醐寺, temple, UNESCO world heritage, 寺院, 仏閣

Statistics: visited on 10 occasions, id 48, 55 photos (57 extra photos can be found in the archive).

In Daigo-ji:

Sanpo-in (三宝院)
Sanpo-in (三宝院)
 
Rishō-in (理性院)
Rishō-in (理性院)
 
Photos of Daigo-ji:

Wooden statue of deity guarding Daigo-ji temple gate
Bridge and Bentendo hall in spring, Daigo-ji temple
The Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, one of the UNESCO world heritages of Kyoto
The Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, one of the UNESCO world heritages of Kyoto
Climbing the stairs of the Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, one of the UNESCO world heritages of Kyoto
Red maple foliage around the Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
The Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, one of the UNESCO world heritages of Kyoto
The Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, one of the UNESCO world heritages of Kyoto
The Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, one of the UNESCO world heritages of Kyoto
The Daigo-ji temple Bentendo hall and its red bridge in winter, Kyoto, Japan
Snowy day on Daigo-ji temple Bentendo pavilion and its red bridge, Kyoto, Japan
Light snow over Daigo-ji temple Bentendo pavilion and its pond, Kyoto, Japan
Colorful flags in Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tourists enjoying autumn colours on the bridge of the Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colors around the Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colors on the pond of Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Daigo-ji temple Bentendo hall in autumn, Kyoto, japan
Pond and red autumn colours surrounding the Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Bright autumn colours around the Bentendo hall of Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
The Bentendo hall and pond of Daigo-ji temple lost in autumn colors, Kyoto, Japan
Red Bentendo hall, red bridge and red autumn colors in Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan