Daitoku-ji Temple 大徳寺
Daitoku-ji is the head temple of the Daitoku school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. It was founded in 1319, but was destroyed by a fire and was rebuiltin the 16th century.
This vast temple complex has 24 subtemples forming what resembles a small village. It is one of the largest Zen temple in Japan, along with the Tofuku-ji and Nanzen-ji.
Among noteworthy subtemples, the Daisen-in boasts a superb "dry landscape" rock gardens; the Koto-in is renowned for the autumn foliage of its moss garden; and the Ryogen-in what is said to be the smallest Zen garden in Japan. Admission to each garden varies from ￥300 to ￥450.
Daitoku-ji is also a good place to study Zen Buddhism. Some subtemples offer meditation lessons.
Note that there are two high-quality Buddhist vegetarian restaurants on the compound.
How to get there
Daitokuji is 5min walk from Kitaoji station on the Karasuma Subway line. Alternatively, bus 205 and 206 from Kyoto station stop at Daitokuji-mae.
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