Take the Kyoto bus and get off at "Zhenyudou-mae" station, then visit Jinyudou and Eishoin all the way to Kinsei Guangming Temple. When we walked out of Jinjie Guangming Temple in the evening, the number of tourists was gradually dwindling. This was the best route to avoid the peak of maple viewing. Many tour groups only choose one of Zhenru Hall or Jinjie Guangming Temple, while independent tourists can leisurely spend an entire afternoon exploring the area and enjoy a peaceful maple viewing experience.
How to get to the Black Valley Golden Ring Guangming Temple?
The most convenient way to get to Kinkei Koji Temple in Kyoto is to take the Kyoto Bus. The main entrance of the temple is located between the two bus stops "Okazaki Road" and "Okazaki Shrine-mae". You can easily reach it by taking bus routes 32, 93, 100, 203, and 204. It is recommended that you get off at the "Zhenrudangqian" station, then visit Zhenrudang and Rongsheyuan along the road, and finally arrive at Jinjie Guangming Temple. After visiting, you can take a bus from "Okazaki Michi" station to the Ye Maple Viewing Spot to enrich your Kyoto maple viewing trip.
Purple Cloud Garden at Jinjie Guangming Temple
When visiting Kyoto Kinkei Kojiji Temple during the autumn foliage period, the specially opened areas of the temple include the Mikagedo Hall, the Great Abbot and Shiun Garden (Wandering Garden). Before entering, you need to purchase a ticket in front of Mikagedo. The ticket price is 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary school students and below. After passing the Great Abbot from the Imperial Shadow Hall, you can reach the Purple Cloud Garden, which is famous for cherry blossom and maple viewing.
Kinkai Komitsuji Temple was founded by Horen Shonin and is commonly known as "Black Valley" (くろ谷). It is one of the seven main mountains of the Pure Land Sect and is located in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City. When you walk into the Imperial Shadow Hall of the main hall, you will see the statue of Master Faran enshrined. In addition, the three Sakyamuni and sixteen Arhat statues that were originally located at the mountain gate have been temporarily moved here for restoration due to restoration. The Great Abbot is one of the important scenes in the Japanese Taiga drama "Yae no Sakura" and is worth watching.
Ziyun Garden is the essence of cherry blossom and maple viewing in the temple. It adopts a tour-style garden design. This garden style allows visitors to enjoy the garden from different angles while walking. The natural scenery of Ziyun Garden combines simple Zen and delicate beauty, which is especially suitable for the autumn leaves season. Although there will inevitably be some crowds when shooting, you can avoid the crowded tour groups and enjoy a more leisurely maple viewing experience by visiting the park in the evening.
▲ Map of Jinjie Guangming Temple area.
▲ During the spring cherry and autumn maple seasons, the temple will arrange special openings.
Conclusion
Kinjie Guangming Temple is a scenic spot suitable for viewing maples and cherry blossoms. Although it is not famous for its dense maple leaves or cherry blossoms, because of this, tourists can slowly appreciate the beautiful scenery here in a more leisurely atmosphere. Ziyun Garden is the focus of maple and cherry blossom viewing in the temple. However, because it is next to a cemetery, the number of tourists here is usually not as crowded as other famous places, but it is suitable for tourists who like quiet viewing.
The nearby Zhennyudo is a famous maple viewing spot in Kyoto. It is recommended to arrange an entire afternoon to visit Zhenyudang Temple and Kinkaiguangji Temple in succession. This itinerary is smooth and effortless, and is an ideal choice for in-depth exploration of the beautiful red foliage of Higashiyama in Kyoto.
Heigu Jinjie Guangming Temple.くろ谷こんかいこうみょうじ
- Address: 121 Kurotani-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
- Phone: +81 75 771 2204
- Opening hours: 10:00~16:00
- Admission fee: 600 yen/adult, 300 yen/elementary school student and below
- Official website: http://www.kurodani.jp/
