Temple · Sagano / Arashiyama
Jojakko-ji 常寂光寺
A hillside temple of mossy steps and a thatched gate climbing under maples to a small pagoda with a view over Sagano and the city, one of Arashiyama's finest autumn spots.
Junior high and under: ¥200
About
Jojakko-ji was founded in the late 16th century on the slopes of Mt. Ogura, a mountain celebrated in classical poetry, when the Nichiren priest Nisshin retired here; it was built partly from timber donated by the Fushimi Castle. Visitors climb through a thatched Niomon gate up mossy stone steps beneath dense maples to the main hall and finally the small two-storey Tahoto pagoda, an Important Cultural Property, from whose terrace you look out over the Sagano fields to the city. The name means "Temple of Eternal Tranquil Light", and outside November it lives up to it. In late autumn the steps become tunnels of red and gold and the moss carpets are strewn with fallen leaves.
Highlights
- Thatched Niomon gate framed by maples
- Mossy stone stairs climbing Mt. Ogura
- Tahoto pagoda and its view over Sagano and Kyoto
- Fallen-leaf carpets on moss in early December
- Quiet fresh greenery from May to September
Tips
- Go early in November: by 10:00 the steps are a queue.
- The best photos are from just below the pagoda looking back down the slope.
- Combine with Gio-ji, Nison-in and the Okochi Sanso garden.
- Wear good shoes; the steps are uneven and steep.
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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