Kōzan-ji
高山寺
A UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses the National Treasure Choju Jinbutsu Giga (Animal and Human Caricatures). It is an autumn foliage spot in the Toganoo mountains and the site of Japan's oldest tea plantation.
Kōzan-ji is located in the mountain forest of Toganoo in northwest Kyoto. It was revived in 1206 by the monk Myoe Shonin. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” The National Treasure Sekisui-in is an Kamakura-period building. You can sit on its veranda and gaze at the Kiyotaki River valley. Inside, a replica of the Choju Jinbutsu Giga (Animal and Human Caricatures), considered the forerunner of Japanese manga, is displayed. The original is kept at the Tokyo and Kyoto National Museums. The temple also has what is said to be Japan's oldest tea plantation. Admission to Sekisui-in costs about 1,000 yen, and an additional mountain fee of about 500 yen applies during the autumn foliage season. Getting there: take a JR bus from Kyoto Station for about 50 minutes and get off at Toganoo. It can be combined with Jingo-ji and Saimyo-ji into the “Sanbi” (Three Tails) autumn foliage route.
Opening hours
08:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Sagano Romantic Train
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Tenryu-ji
- Ninna-ji
- Ryoan-ji
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Kitano Tenmangu