Daikaku-ji Temple, Osawa-no-ike Pond

The information about Daikaku-ji Temple is presented here. Daikaku-ji Temple was close to Uzumasa, where many historical dramas (jidai-geki) were filmed in the past, so Osawa-no-ike Pond and Akechi-mon Gate were used for filming historical dramas. Daikaku-ji Temple was widely known as a filming location for TV and movies. Incidentally, Osawa-no-ike Pond was selected as one of the three major moon observation sites, and Kangetsu-no-Yube is held around the mid-autumn harvest moon. Around Osawa Pond, cherry blossoms and maple trees are planted, making it a famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.

• Temple Location Map ＆ Directions
• Temple History
• Temple Highlights

【Daikaku-ji Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 4 Saga-Osawa-cho Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Daikakuji bus stop (about 2 minutes on foot), JR Saga Arashiyama Station (about 18 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual (Main hall area): Adults 500 yen, High School, Junior High and Elementary School Students 300 yen
Individual (Osawa-no-ike pond area): Adults 300 yen, High School, Junior High and Elementary School Students 100 yen

【Daikaku-ji Temple History】

The site of Daikaku-ji Temple (大覚寺) is built was the site of Saga-in, the new villa of the 52nd Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇) during his marriage to Empress Danrin (Tachibana no Kachiko) in the early Heian period (794-1185). It is said that the name “Saga-in” is derived from Mt. Saga-san, a scenic spot on the north side of Choan, the capital of the To (China). In Saga-in, Kobo-daishi Kukai (弘法大師・空海), the founder of the Shingon sect, built Gokaku-in at the request of the Emperor Saga. Kobo-daishi Kukai housed the statues of Godai Myoo, which he carved himself, in Gokaku-in and practiced Buddhism. In 818, a great famine occurred, and Emperor Saga, at the suggestion of Kobo-Daishi Kukai, wrote the “Hannya Shingyo” with the sincerity of a single character and three bows. Empress Danna painted the statue of Yakushi Sanson. Kobo-daishi Kukai prayed to Godai Myoo at Gokaku-in in Saga-in. The “Hannya Shingyo” written by Emperor Saga, is housed in Shinkyoden of Daikaku-ji Temple as an imperial sealed shingyo that can be opened only once every 60 years. In 842 Emperor Saga died, and in 850 Empress Danrin died. Daikaku-ji Temple was founded in 876 by Masako Naishinno, daughter of Emperor Saga and Empress of the 53rd Emperor Junna, with Gojaku Nyudoshinno, grandson of Emperor Saga and second son of Emperor Junna as the founder (1st head monk). Saga-in was transformed into Daikaku-ji Temple. It is said that the 56th Emperor Seiwa gave the temple name “Daikaku-ji Temple” to the temple. In 879, Masako Naishinno died, and in 884, Gojaku Nyudoshinn died. During the Engi period (901-923), Uda, the 59th Emperor Uda, often visited Daikaku-ji Temple and held the shien (banquet). In the Tengen period (978-983), Josho became the 3rd head monk (monzeki), and for about 290 years until Yoshinobu, the 20th head monk (monzeki), Daikaku-ji Temple belonged to Ichijo-in Temple, the sub-temple of Kofuku-ji Temple (Nara City), the main temple of the Hosso sect of Buddhism. In 1268, the 88th Emperor Go-Saga became the 21st head monk (monzeki), in 1289, the 90th Emperor Kameyama became the 22nd head monk (monzeki). In 1307, the 91st Emperor Go-Uda became the 23rd head monk (monzeki). In addition, Emperor Go-Uda is also called “Daikakuji-dono”, because he devoted himself to the maintenance of the temple complex. Since Emperor Kameyama and Emperor Go-Uda ruled the cloister government, Daikaku-ji Temple was also known as Saga Gosho (Saga Palace). The line of emperors connected to Emperor Kameyama and Emperor Go-Uda is called the Daikakuji-to (Southern Dynasty), which in turn produced emperors with the Jimyoin-to (Northern Dynasty), which was connected to the 89th Emperor Go-Fukakusa. In 1336, the 96th Emperor Godaigo, the 1st of the Southern Court, came into conflict with Emperor Komyo, the 1st of the Northern Dynasty, and Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and Daikaku-ji Temple was set on fire and destroyed by Ashikaga’s forces. In 1392, peace between the Northern and Southern Dynasties was reached at Daikaku-ji Temple, and the Sanshu-no-Jngi (three sacred treasures) were handed over by the 99th Emperor Go-Kameyama, the 4th of the Southern Court, to the 100th Emperor Go-Komatsu, the 6th of the Northern Dynasty. In 1410, Emperor Go-Kameyama fled to Yoshino (Nara) because the terms of the peace treaty had not been fulfilled, but returned to Kyoto in 1416. In 1419, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, son of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, became the 31st head monk (monzeki). In the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the Onin War (1467-1477) occurred, and much of the temple complex at Daikaku-ji Temple was destroyed by fire in 1468. In 1534, Yasui-Monzeki Rengeko-in Temple became part of the Daikaku-ji Temple. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603), Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi donated temple land to Daikaku-ji Temple. It is said that the 107th Emperor Go-Yozei visited Daikaku-ji Temple in 1587. In 1589, kusho, the 36th head monk (monzeki) and brother of Emperor Go-Yozei, began to rebuild Daikaku-ji Temple, which had fallen into decay, and the appearance of the temple was almost completely restored during the Kanei period (1624-1644). In the early Edo period (1603-1868), Daikaku-ji Temple received protection from the imperial court and was rebuilt. In 1607, Sonsho, the 5th prince of Emperor Go-Yoszei, became the 37th head monk (monzeki), and in 1651, Seishin, the 4th prince of the 108th Emperor Go-Mizunoo, became the 38th head monk (monzeki). It is said that Emperor Go-Mizunoo visited Daikaku-ji Temple in 1672, 1674, and 1678. In 1611, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st shogun of the Edo Shogunate, donated temple property to Daikaku-ji Temple. It is said that after the Meiji Restoration, Daikaku-ji Temple was devastated and temporarily uninhabited due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, Haibutsukishaku, and the Agechirei (decree). In 1924, Ryuchi Mitsuo, the 48th head monk (monzaki), rebuilt Shinkyouden. and in 1925, the Kyoenden (banquet hall) for the enthronement ceremony of the 123rd Emperor Taisho was moved and Mieido was built.
*reference・・・Daikaku-ji Temple website

【Daikaku-ji Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Shoshinden (正寝殿, Important Cultural Property) in 1573 to 1614. Shoshinden has 12 rooms of various sizes, including Okanmuri-no-ma, Kenji-no-ma, Momiji-no-ma, Take-no-ma, Yuki-no-ma, Taka-no-ma, Sansui-no-ma, Kenjin-no-ma and Saya-no-ma. In Shoshinden, there are shohekiga (barrier paintings) painted by painter Kano Sanraku and painter Watanabe Shiko.
★Shiden (宸殿, Important Cultural Property) was built in 1619 by the 108th Emperor Go-Mizunoo, who gave the Nyogo Gosho (Woman’s Palace) of his wife, Tofukumonin (Tokugawa Masako), to Daikaku-ji Temple. Shiden has rooms such as Botan-no-ma, Yanagimatsu-no-ma, Kobai-no-ma, and Tsuru-no-ma. In Shiden, there are shohekiga (barrier paintings) “Botan-zu” and “Kobai-zu” painted by painter Kano Sanraku. Ukon-no-Tachibana (tachibana tree) and Sakon-no-Ume (plum tree) are planted in front of Shiden.
★Osawa-no-ike Pond (大沢池, Place of Scenic Beauty) is said to have been built around 814 by the 52nd Emperor Saga in imitation of Lake Doteiko in China. Osawa-no-ike Pond is said to be the oldest man-made garden pond in Japan, with a circumference of about 1 km. Osawa Pond is a pond spring boat garden. Osawa-no-ike Pond has Tenjin-jima Island, Kikuga-shima Island, and Teiko-seki (stone).
大覚寺見どころ (Daikaku-ji Temple Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Kado-sai (華道祭) is held every year in April. At Kado-sai, ka-ten (ikebana exhibition) is held and various events are also held to commemorate the legacy of the 52nd Emperor Saga, the founder of the Saga-Goryu school of ikebana. Ryuto-sen (boat) and Gekishu-sen (boat) are operated on Osawa-no-ike Pond, and Ikebana Offering Ceremony and Tea Ceremony are held.
★Yoi-kobo (宵弘法) is held every year on August 20th, the eve of the 21st, the go-ennichi (festival day) of Kobo-daishi Kukai, the founder of the Shingon sect. At Yoi-kobo, visitors remember the legacy of Kobo-daishi Kukai and send off the spirits of our ancestors who returned during Obon. At Yoi-kobo, the gomadan set in the center of Osawa-no-ike Pond is lit and Saga-no-Okuribi is held.
★Kangetsu-no-Yube (観月の夕べ) is held every year around the mid-autumn harvest moon. At Kangetsu-no-Yube, Mangetsu Ho-e is held to pray for a bountiful harvest and happiness for the people, and visitors can also enjoy watching the moon from Ryuto-sen (boat) and Gekishu-sen (boat) floating on Osawa-no-ike Pond.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is around early April. About 500 cherry trees, including Somei-Yoshino, Yama-zakura, and weeping cherry trees, are planted, and the 1 km-long row of cherry trees around Osawa-no-ike Pond and the weeping cherry trees in front of Chokushi-mon Gate are said to be beautiful.
★The best time to see lotuses (蓮) is from early July to early August. In Osawa-no-ike Pond, Nagoso lotus, an ancient lotus and a variety unique to Daikaku-ji Temple, is planted and blooms with pink flowers. It is said that the Nagoso lotus was once endangered.
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to late November. Maple trees and other plants are distributed around the temple grounds, and the scenery of autumn leaves and Osawa-no-ike Pond and Hojo-chi Pond is beautiful. The water mirrors of Osawa-no-ike Pond and Hojo-chi Pond reflect the autumn leaves and Shinkyo-Hoto (pagoda). Daikaku-ji Temple is illuminated every year around the time of autumn leaves, and a special night viewing is held. (night illumination, 紅葉ライトアップ)
大覚寺紅葉ライトアップ (Daikaku-ji Temple night illumination)
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-871-0071

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Daikaku-ji Temple is a little further away, but it is the route to Arashiyama on the west side. Arashiyama is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto, and is home to the World Heritage sites of Tenryu-ji Temple, Bamboo Forest Path, Nison-in Temple, Gio-ji Temple, Jojakko-ji Temple, and Nomiya Shrine, so you can enjoy sightseeing there. There is Hirosawa-no-ike Pond on the east side, and it is recommended to take a leisurely walk to Hirosawa-no-ike Pond.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】
If you plan to visit Daikaku-ji Temple, be sure to check the latest information.