Daitoku-ji, Buddhist temple in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Daitoku-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in Kita-ku, Kyoto, consisting of a main temple and over twenty independent sub-temples spread across an extensive compound. The buildings are arranged along a central axis and include several halls designated as National Treasures, as well as numerous gardens in different styles.
Shūhō Myōchō founded the compound in 1315, but many buildings burned down during the 15th-century Onin War. The monk Ikkyū later led the reconstruction and helped the temple gain renewed standing among influential patrons.
The complex served as a center for the Rinzai Zen tradition and shaped Japanese tea ceremony culture over centuries. Many sub-temples preserve old tea houses and gardens designed according to the principles of this meditative practice.
The main temple opens to visitors only during special occasions, while some sub-temples are accessible year-round or seasonally. It is best to inquire in advance with individual sub-temples about opening times and viewing arrangements.
Some gardens here use tiny pines and moss cushions that have been pruned over generations to maintain their small size. These living miniatures create the impression of distant landscapes within a small space.
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