Temple · Hanazono / Ukyo

Myoshin-ji and Taizo-in 妙心寺・退蔵院

A huge walled Zen complex of 46 subtemples, with a glaring "dragon that watches from every angle" on the Hatto ceiling and the beautiful Taizo-in subtemple gardens.

HoursTaizo-in 9:00-17:00; Hatto tours about 9:10-15:40

ClosedOpen daily

PriceHatto and Yokushitsu guided tour (adult): ¥700
Taizo-in (adult): ¥700

Getting thereHanazono Station (JR Sagano Line), 5 min; Myoshinji Station (Randen), 5 min

Time needed1-1.5 hours

Best timeEarly April; any quiet weekday

Address1 Hanazono Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto

Websitemyoshinji.or.jp

About

Myoshin-ji is the head temple of the largest branch of Rinzai Zen, founded in 1342 on the site of a detached palace of Emperor Hanazono. Its precinct is a self-contained town of stone paths and walls linking dozens of subtemples. Guided tours (in Japanese, with English sheets) show the Hatto lecture hall with Kano Tan'yu's Unryu-zu dragon, whose eyes seem to follow you, and the Yokushitsu, a 17th-century steam bath, as well as Japan's oldest dated temple bell. The subtemple Taizo-in is the most visited: it owns Japan's oldest ink painting in the Zen style, Hyonen-zu (Catching a Catfish with a Gourd, a replica on display), a karesansui attributed to Kano Motonobu, and the 1960s Yoko-en stroll garden with weeping cherry and azaleas. Taizo-in also runs zazen and tea experiences. Other subtemples like Keishun-in and Daishin-in (with temple lodging) are open too.

Highlights

Kano Tan'yu's Unryu-zu dragon on the Hatto ceiling
Yokushitsu, a historic Zen steam bath
Taizo-in's Kano Motonobu dry garden
Yoko-en garden with a weeping cherry in early April
Hyonen-zu, Japan's oldest Zen ink painting (replica)

Tips

Hatto tours run every 20-30 minutes; buy tickets at the office near the north gate.
Taizo-in's matcha with a view of the weeping cherry is a lovely pause.
The quiet precinct is free to walk; JR Hanazono Station is right at the south gate.
Combine with Ninna-ji and Ryoan-ji to the north.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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Myoshin-ji and Taizo-in 妙心寺・退蔵院

About

Highlights

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