Kinkakuji to Myoshinji
Golden Pavilion - Ryoanji - Ninnaji-Myoshinji 金閣寺～竜安寺～仁和寺～妙心寺
Overview
The Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) is perhaps the most famous temple in Japan. It is a World Heritage Site covered in gold leaf that was burnt to the ground by a mad monk in 1950 (as recounted in a novel by Yukio Mishima) and then subsequently rebuilt. Stunning.
Between the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and the next stop - Ryoanji Temple - is the quirky Insho Domoto Museum. It houses the paintings of Insho Domoto, a master of modern Japanese painting. The museum features 2,000 works of art. If you have time, it is worth a visit. Across the street from Ritsumeikan University.
Your next stop, Ryoanji Temple, is equally stunning – but in a different way. It is home to the best-known stone garden in Japan and has an amazing pond and outer garden. It is the head temple of the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. It was originally a family estate owned by the Fujiwara clan. Following the Onin War, it was willed to be converted into a Zen sect temple complex.
Ninnaji Temple is a spacious temple founded in 888 C.E. It was originally the summer home of the Emperor. The sub-temple just to the left of the main gate once you enter is a World Heritage Site.
The final stop is Myoshinji Temple. It was founded in 1337 and is a Zen temple. Myoshinji is a city behind walls with many, many sub-temples. It is peaceful and vast, and is a wonderful and not very crowded temple. Moreover, unlike its more famous cousins, Myoshinji is open twenty-four hours a day, year-round.
Getting to the Starting Point
If you are coming from downtown, it will take 30-minutes. Ride along Oike Dori west to Nijo Castle. Cross Horikawa Dori and continue riding west with the castle on your right. Cross Senbon Dori, where Nijo Station is. Ride straight about 50 meters, and turn right at the Koban (police box) just before you get to the tracks above you. Follow this relatively car-free street until it ends at Nishioji Dori.
Go north (right) up Nishioji Dori. It is a bit of a climb as you head past the Izumiya shopping mall, the Keifuku railways's Hakubaicho train terminus (both on your left), and then Hirano Shrine on the right side of the street.
From there, you have another few minutes climb to Kinkakuji. Turn left at the street with the pines. The temple is 100 meters up this road. You can park in a lot on the left.
Kinkakuji Temple
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Myoshinji Temple
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After visiting the Golden Pavilion, head west on the curving road (Kanko Doro) towards Ritsumeikan University (left side) and the Domoto Museum (right).
The sidewalks are a bit tight, but we recommend using them – carefully – as cars tend to drive too fast along this wooded road.
Ryoanji is on the right about 1.5 kilometers from Kinkakuji.
From here, continue in the same direction – west – to Ninnaji Temple. It is on the right about 1 kilometer from Ryoanji. Park at the base of the temple, next to the steps.
Your final stop is Myoshinji Temple. From Ninnaji, go back towards Ryoanji. At the first corner – a five-point intersection – go right down the street at two o’clock (not the hard right). It is a 500 meter downhill coast.
Total Riding Time
One hour riding time from the Golden Pavilion to Myoshinji, three hours from City Hall.
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| Ninnaji Temple | Rock Garden at Ryoanji Temple |
More Information
Kinkakuji Temple
1 Kinkaku-ji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
075 461 0013
Entrance Fee: 400 yen; last entry at 4:30 pm
Insho-Domoto Museum of Fine Arts
26-3 Hirano, Kamiyanagi-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
075 463 0007
Entrance Fee: 500 yen; Closed: Mondays Year End / New Year; 9:30am - 5:00pm
Ryoanji Temple
13 Ryoanji Goryonoshita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
075 463 2216
Entrance Fee: 500 yen; last entry at 4:30 pm
Ninnaji Temple
075 461 1155
Entrance Fee: free except for sub-temple that is a World Heritage Site (500 yen); last entry at 4 pm
Myoshinji Temple
Hanozono, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
075 463 3121
Entrance Fee: Free (except for special exhibits at select sub-temples); open 24 hours
Kinugasa Onsen (public bath)
Entrance Fee: 410 yen
Map
Kinkakuji Temple to Myoshinji Temple Route
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