Hōsen-in (宝泉院)

Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)Hōsen-in (宝泉院)

Hosen-in was founded about 800 years ago a priest quarters for the Sanzen-in temple. The zen garden surrounding the main hall is about 300 years old, but the large pine tree on the south side is much older: 700 years! When watched from the entrance path, the foliage of this venerable tree is shaped like Mount Fuji. Japanese like to give obscure "official" shape resemblances to things and places, but for once this is not something that is hard to see!

Although far from being as crazy-crowded as Sanzen-in, autumn remains a busy season. Even if Ohara is not very close from Kyoto, it is not far enough to avoid hordes of tourists... For a quieter and more relaxing time, visiting in late spring for the aomomiji (青紅葉) "new green leaves" season is better. The ticket is a bit more expensive than other places, but it includes a "tea and sweet" set (抹茶・和菓子) which makes it a very good deal.

On the west of the hall, behind the little shoji window, is a tsukubai water basin (蹲) with a small wooden terrace leading to it. Two planks in the terrace are removable and the temple will place there specific artistic works, such as the leaves and bird carvings you can see in this photo set. Next time you come, the planks will likely be different! Another unique feature for this temple. Note also the pair of bamboo tubes going trough the terrace: you can listen to the metallic sound of water dripping below the basin if you put your ear to it.

Like a few other temples in Kyoto (such as Genko-an), the ceiling of the main hall contains special planks that used to be floor boards for the Fushimi castle. What makes them special? The bear traces of blood from 370 samurai's who committed ritual suicide ("seppuku") when they lost the battle for their caste. Don't look for red stains though: that happened a long, long time ago. But some footprints are still visible, as well as other body parts with a bit of imagination.

Hosen-in has another zen-garden with a very different style, just south of the old tree. Called the "garden of the crane and turtle" (which are both symbols of long life), it features various stones and patterns in a more anarchic way. The three main features of the place are the stone bridge, a racked gravel area and nice tsukubai water basin with neatly arranged stones around it. You can access it by going around the entrance "toll" booth.

Recommended for: Access: 800 円

Nearby: Shōrin-in 勝林院 (50m), Jikkō-in 実光院 (100m), Sanzen-in 三千院 (210m), Keitoku-in 桂德院 (950m)

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

Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, Ohara, Hosen-in, 宝泉院, temple, 寺院, 仏閣

Statistics: visited on 23 occasions, id 302, 66 photos (118 extra photos can be found in the archive).

Photos of Hōsen-in:

Washbasin with autumn decoration, Hosen-in (宝泉院)
Meditation hall, Hosen-in (宝泉院)
Wooden terrace with carvings near the washbasin, Hosen-in (宝泉院)
Temple main hall in late winter
View on Japanese garden and bamboo forest, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto
Koi carp hiding among green lush vegetation in a garden of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Summer time in Hosen-in temple, Ohara valley, Kyoto
Green tea and sweet on the edge of moss garden, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto
Tsukubai water basin, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
The centuries old pine tree of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Traditional hearth inside Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Ladle resting on tsukubai water basin with seasonal flower decorations, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Early autumn colours on a sunny day in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Ikebana floral composition on black yakisugi wall, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Flowers blooming around a tsukubai water basin, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Cherry and other flowers blooming around the main hall of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Spring time in Hosen-in temple, Ohara valley, Kyoto
Green maccha tea and its associated sweet in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin lost in spring blossoms, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Cherry blossoms, shakunage and other flowers blooming around the main hall of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Shakunage and sakura blossoms in the main hall of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Shakunage flowers blooming in Hosen-in temple garden, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin with seasonal floral decoration, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Moss and rock Japanese garden, Ohara valley, Kyoto
Autumn in Hosen-in temple, Ohara valley, Kyoto
The Mt Fuji tree, one of the three famous cedars of Kyoto, Japan
Thick snow covering the entrance path of Hosen-in temple in the Ohara valley of Kyoto, Japan
View from temple main hole on a snowy winter day, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Winter in Hosen-in temple, Ohara valley, Kyoto
Hosen-in temple hall and its centuries-old pine tree, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin with bamboo pipe and ladle, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Mossy tsukubai water basin near terrace of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Lonely maccha tea bowl on a summer day in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
White flowers in tsukubai water basin, Hosen-do temple, Kyoto, Japan
Small pond garden in autumn, Hōsen-in temple, Ohara valley, Kyoto, Japan
Gentle autumn colours in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Mossy tsukubai water basin surrounded by flowers on a spring day in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
A hairy tsukubai with sakura petals, moss and numerous little flowers growing in spring, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Early spring garden from the main hall of Hosen-in temple, Ohara, Kyoto, Japan
Window on early spring flowers and new green leaves in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Spring garden from the temple main hall, Hosen-in, Ohara, Japan
Early spring flower blooming around the main hall of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin and bamboo ladle covered with fallen autumn leaves in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin with bamboo ladle and fallen autumn leaves in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Gentle autumn colours in a garden of Hosen-in temple, Ohara valley, Kyoto, Japan
Tea set on shelf, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
The muted autumn colours of Hosen-in garden, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin decorated with flowers during autumn in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colours and green bamboo fence in the garden of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colours surrounding the main hall of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Relaxing autumn afternoon mood in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Few tourists relaxing on a quiet autumn afternoon in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Having a relaxing tea time during autumn in Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tsukubai water basin and early autumn colours, Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Sun peeking through orange autumn foliage in the garden of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Soft afternoon light on the golden maple trees of Hosen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Red fruit fallen on bamboo well cover, Hosen-in temple garden, Kyoto, Japan