Koetsuji Temple

• History of Koetsuji
• Koetsuji Access
• Japan Temples & Shrines

Koetsuji Temple, Kyoto 光悦寺

Koetsuji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple in the Takagamine district of north west Kyoto, close to Genko-an Temple, one of the so-called "Bloody Ceiling Temples" of Kyoto and Joshoji Temple, known for its associations with the Edo Period courtesan, Yoshino Tayu II (吉野太夫).

Koetsuji Temple with so-called Koetsu-gaki or gagyu-gaki bamboo fence, Takagamine, Kyoto

Koetsuji Temple, Takagamine, Kyoto

History of Koetsuji

The whole area of Takagamine was given by the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa to the artist Honami Koetsu (1558-1637), who constructed an artist's colony here and invited many of his friends and family to come and live.

Koetsu was a master of many arts including sword polishing, calligraphy, ceramics, lacquer and the Japanese tea ceremony. Indeed, Koetsu is considered one of the three master calligraphers of the Kan-ei era (1624-1644) along with Konoe Nobutaka and Shokado Shojo.

Koetsu's interest in the tea ceremony is reflected in the layout of Koetsuji Temple, which rather than containing religious halls consists instead of a number of tea houses (seven in total) set in a strolling tea garden.

Koetsu was not a follower of one school of tea but studied with teachers from various schools including Furuta Oribe and Oda Urakusai, a brother of Oda Nobunaga.

The Taikyo-an tea house dates from 1915 and was built as a replica of the tea house where Koetsu spent his last days. It consists of a classic 4.5 tatami room with tokonoma and clay floor. Other tea houses in the temple grounds include: Ryojakuken, Tokuyu-an, Honami-an, Daikyo-an and Kigyu-an. The grounds have a number of elegant stone lanterns and bamboo fences named after the great man.

After Koetsu's death in 1637, the land became a Nichiren Temple which contains the grave of Koetsu and several of his family.

Koetsuji Temple is well-known for its lovely garden which is particularly popular during the autumn leaf viewing season in Kyoto and for its cherry blossoms as is nearby Genko-an. At the end of the garden there are views down over Kyoto city.

Fall Colors, Koetsuji Temple, Takagamine, Kyoto

Koetsu's Grave, Koetsuji Temple, Takagamine, Kyoto

Koetsuji Access - how to get to Koetsuji in Kyoto

Koetsuji

29 Takagamine Koetsu-cho

Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8466

Tel: 075 491 1392

Hours: 8am-5pm; No admission from November 10 to 13

Admission: 300 yen.

From Kyoto Station take a Kyoto subway to Kitaoji Station and then a #Kita 1 (北1) Kyoto bus from Kitaoji Bus Terminal and get off at Takagaminegenkoan-mae bus stop. From here the temple is a two-minute walk. Alternatively, take a #6 bus from Nijo Station and Shijo Omiya. There is a hiking path through the mountains to this area from near Kinkakuji Temple.

Koetsuji Temple, Takagamine, Kyoto

Nearby Koetsuji

Koetsuji Temple is in a fairly remote area of north west Kyoto, north of both Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) and Imamiya Shrine and south of Shodenji Temple. Koetsuji is very close to Genko-an Temple and Joshoji.

Close by is the Ryokan Nenrinbo if you wish to stay in this quiet, rather out-of-the way part of Kyoto.

View of Kyoto from Koetsuji Temple, Takagamine

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