Temple · Takao / Ukyo
Kozan-ji 高山寺
A mountain temple in the Takao forests that owns the Choju-giga, the 12th-century scrolls of frolicking rabbits and frogs often called Japan's first manga.
Autumn entry fee: ¥500
About
Kozan-ji was revived in 1206 by the monk Myoe, and it is said to have planted Japan's first tea seeds brought from China by Eisai, preserved in a small tea field in the grounds. The temple's greatest treasure is the Choju-jinbutsu-giga, four ink scrolls of animals behaving like humans: rabbits and frogs wrestling, monkeys conducting rites. The originals are in the Tokyo and Kyoto national museums, but high-quality replicas are displayed in the Sekisui-in, a Kamakura-period residence that is a National Treasure, whose open veranda looks out over the cedar and maple forests of the Kiyotaki valley. The approach climbs through tall cedars on a stone path. Kozan-ji is part of the "Sanbi" trio of Takao, Makino-o and Togano-o, famous for autumn leaves, and is a World Heritage Site.
Highlights
- Replica Choju-giga scrolls of frolicking animals
- Sekisui-in, a National Treasure residence with a forest-view veranda
- Japan's oldest tea field
- Cedar-lined stone path approach
- Autumn leaves in the Togano-o valley
Tips
- Take JR bus from Kyoto Station to Toganoo (about 55 min).
- Combine with Jingo-ji, 20 minutes' walk away, for kawarake disc throwing.
- An autumn entry fee is charged on top of the Sekisui-in fee in November.
- The Kiyotaki river trail from here to Arashiyama is a beautiful half-day hike.
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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