Jakkō-ji

Jakkō-ji is a Buddhist temple set on a hillside with stone steps connecting multiple wooden structures built in traditional style. The grounds include a Japanese garden planted with maple trees that change the landscape with the seasons.

The temple relocated multiple times before arriving at its present location in 1708 following the great fire of the Hoei period. This move to the hillside represented a turning point that established the temple's long-term home in this neighborhood.

The temple holds deep connections to the world of Go, the ancient board game, through its second head priest Nikkai who received master status from the warlord Oda Nobunaga. This link to classical Japanese gaming culture gives the place special standing in local tradition and respect.

The temple is best reached by bus to the Higashiyama Niomon stop, followed by a short walk through the residential neighborhood. Comfortable shoes are helpful since you will need to climb stone steps to reach the temple grounds.

The temple grounds hold an art gallery displaying ancient calligraphy scrolls and traditional Japanese paintings that are open to visitors. This collection provides direct access to artistic traditions and the visual aesthetics that shaped earlier periods.