Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-13 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Kōdai-ji, in Shimogawara, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, is a temple of the Kenninji branch of Rinzai Zen, with the mountain name Jubuzan and a statue of Shaka Nyorai as its main image. Its precincts became a National Historic Site in 1966, and its gardens, designed by Kobori Enshū, are a Place of Scenic Beauty.
We have checked the admission and opening hours, including the evening special openings when the temple is lit up; they are in “Plan your visit” below. Other eastern Kyoto sights are close by: Yasaka Shrine is about 400 m away, Chion-in about 500 m, Gion District about 600 m and Kiyomizu-dera about 700 m.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan09n — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- KoudaijiOtamaya — ＋－ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan38n — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan35s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan33s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan30n — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan14n — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan06n — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 170923 Kodaiji Kyoto Japan05n — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Kodai-ji (2644391163) — KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Kōdai-ji (高台寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Shimogawara neighborhood of Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Kenninji branch of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. Its sangō prefix is Jubuzan (鷲峰山), and its Main image is a statue Shaka Nyorai. Its precincts were designated a National Historic Site in 1966. The gardens of Kōdai-ji were designed by Kobori Enshū and are a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-13 · Kōdai-ji: visiting
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Gion-shijo (Keihan Main Line), about 900 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-13 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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