Rokuō-in, Buddhist temple in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Rokuō-in is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto featuring a dry landscape garden with moss-covered grounds and a corridor linking multiple ceremonial buildings. The complex displays the careful architectural design typical of Japanese temples with thoughtfully arranged outdoor spaces.
The temple was founded in 1380 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a sub-temple of Hoto-ji. It survived after the main temple was destroyed during the Onin War.
The main hall holds a seated Buddha statue attributed to sculptor Unkei, with statues of ten disciples arranged in traditional formation. These figures shape the spiritual center and visual character of the interior space.
The temple sits three minutes on foot from Rokuo-in Station on the Keifuku Railway Line. Visitors should note that moss covers much of the grounds, requiring careful footing.
The temple preserves a Buddha tooth relic brought from Song Dynasty China by Minamoto no Sanetomo and kept in a special reliquary hall called Datto-den. This relic makes the site a distinctive center for Buddhist devotion.
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