To-ji Temple, Kobo-Ichi

The information about To-ji Temple is presented here. To-ji Temple was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1994 as a “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)”. To-ji Temple holds Kobo-Ichi (Kobo-Ichi Market, Kobo-San, Kobo Market) on the 21st of every month, which is the anniversary of Kobo-daishi Kukai, the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. Kobo-Ichi used to be held only on March 21st every year, the anniversary of Kobo-daishi Kukai’s death, but since 1239, it has been held on the 21st of every month.

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

【To-ji Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): City Bus Stop Toji Higashimon-mae (about 2 minutes on foot), City Bus Stop Toji Minamimon-mae (about 2 minutes on foot), City Bus Stop Toji Nishimon-mae (about 2 minutes on foot), Kintetsu Toji Station (about 10 minutes on foot), JR Kyoto Station Hachijo-Exit (about 15 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 (Temple grounds open 5:00-17:00) Special night viewing is held during the cherry blossom season, the autumn leaves season.
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Adults 500-800 yen, High school students 400-700 yen, Junior High and Elementary School Students 300-500 yen (extra charge will apply during special exhibitions)

【To-ji Temple History】

To-ji Temple (東寺) is called Kyoo-o Gokoku-ji Temple (教王護国寺). To-ji Temple was founded in 796 at the request of the 50th Emperor Kanmu, as an official temple for the protection of the nation, along with Sai-ji Temple, to the east of Rajomon Gate, the entrance to Heian-kyo. It is said that To-ji Temple is for the Sakyo (east side) side of Heian-kyo and Sai-ji Temple is for the Ukyo (west side) side of Heian-kyo, or that To-ji Temple is meant to protect Togoku (eastern Japan) and Sai-ji Temple is meant to protect Saigoku (western Japan). Incidentally, To-ji Temple is said to be the only remaining relic of Heian-kyo. After that, in 823, Kobo-daishi Kukai (弘法大師 空海), the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, was given To-ji Temple by the 52nd Emperor Saga, and Kobo-daishi Kukai made Daishi-do (Mie-do, Fudo-do) his residence, transforming To-ji Temple into a fundamental center of Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Incidentally, Kobo-daishi Kukai was trusted by Emperor Saga and built Gokakuin Temple to house the statue of Godai Myoo in Saga-in (the imperial villa of Emperor Saga), the predecessor of Daikaku-ji Temple, and practiced the Buddhism. In addition, Kobo-daishi Kukai prayed for the victory of Emperor Saga during the Kusuko incident in 810, when Emperor Saga and the 51st Emperor Heijo clashed. It is said that Kon-do (Main Hall) was completed around 823, and that in 825 Kobo-daishi Kukai began construction of Ko-do (Lecture Hall), which would become the central temple for esoteric Buddhism, and completed it in 839. Kobo-daishi Kukai is said to have started the construction of Gojyu-no-to (Five-story Pagoda) in 826, but the actual construction did not begin until after Kobo-daishi Kukai’s death in 835. After that, in 828, Kobo-daishi Kukai founded Japan’s first private school, Shugei Shuchi-in, on the temple grounds. It is said that Gojyu-no-to (Five-story Pagoda) and other structures were destroyed by fire during the Heian period (794-1185) and To-ji Temple was temporarily declined during the Genpei wars in the late Heian period. In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Mongaku began to rebuild To-ji Temple, and in 1233, the Buddhist sculptor Kosho completed the statue of Kobo-daishi Kukai. It is also said that in Kamakura period, Senyomonin, the sixth daughter of the 77th Emperor Go-Shirakawa, donated the manor, and around 1240, she started the Shojin-Ku, where meals are offered to Kobo-daishi Kukai every morning. During Kamakura period, the worship of Kobo Daishi increased, and from the imperial family to the common people, To-ji Temple came to be called “Odaishi’s Temple (Kobo Daishi’s Temple)”. During the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392), Ashikaga Takauji, the 1st shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, set up camp at To-ji Temple and fought with Nitta Yoshisada. Ashikaga Takauji escaped the battle by closing Todai-mon gate, which is also known as Akazuno-mon (Gate of Non-Opening). Later, Kyoto was frequently hit by wars such as Onin War (Onin-no-ran), but To-ji Temple was spared from being burned down.　In 1486, much of the temple complex, including Kon-do (Main Hall), Ko-do (Lecture Hall), and Nandai-mon Gate, was burned down by Bumei-no-Doikki (People’s Political Demand Activities). Ko-do (Lecture Hall) was rebuilt in 1491, and Kon-do (Main Hall) was rebuilt in 1603 with donations from Toyotomi Hideyori, son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Gojyu-no-to (Five-story Pagoda) was rebuilt in 1644 with a donation from Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd shogun of the Edo Shogunate. Gojyu-no-to pagoda was destroyed by fire 4 times due to lightning and suspicious fires, and the current Gojyu-no-to is the 5th generation. Although no temple buildings from the time of the temple’s founding period remain at To-ji Temple, the layout of the temple complex, with Nandai-mon Gate, Kon-do (Main Hall), Ko-do (Lecture Hall), and Jiki-do (Dining hall) in a straight line from north to south, and the scale of the buildings remain as they were in the Heian period (794-1185).
*reference・・・To-ji Temple website

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

★Kon-do (Main Hall, Hon-do, 金堂, National Treasure) was rebuilt in 1603 with the donation from Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Kon-do houses the statue of Yakushi Nyorai and two supporting statues of Nikko Bosatsu and Gakko Bosatsu. Kon-do is the largest building in To-ji Temple, with a roof called a mokoshi, which at first glance appears to be a two-story structure.
★Gojyu-no-to (Five-story Pagoda, 五重塔, National Treasure) was rebuilt in 1644 with the donation of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd shogun of the Edo shogunate. Gojyu-no-to is about 54.8 meters high and is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan. Gojyu-no-to is centered on the central pillar representing Dainichi Nyorai, and houses the statues of Kongokai-Shibutsu and Hachidai-Bosatsu.
★Ko-do (Lecture Hall, 講堂, Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt in 1491. Ko-do is the central temple of Esoteric Buddhism, which Kobo-daishi Kukai was the first to start building. Ko-do is decorated with a three-dimensional mandala designed by Kobo-daishi Kukai, which expresses the world view of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. Ko-do houses the 21 Buddhist statues centered on Dainichi Nyorai, including the statues of Gochi-Nyorai, Godai-Bosatsu, Godai-Myoo, Shi-tenno, Bonten, and Taisakuten.
To-ji Temple Highlights

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Kobo-Ichi (Kobo-Ichi Market, Kobo-San, Kobo Market, 弘法市) is held on the 21st of every month (early morning-around 16:00). January 21st is called “Hatsu Kobo” and December 21st is called “Simai Kobo”. Kobo-Ichi is lined with more than 1,000 stalls selling antiques, second-hand tools, clothes, food, plants, etc.
★Grakuta-Ichi (Grakuta-Ichi Market, がらくた市) is held on the first Sunday of every month(early morning-around 16:00). Although Grakuta-Ichi is smaller in scale than Kobo-Ichi, about 100 stalls selling antiques and handmade goods are set up mainly on the south and west sides of the temple grounds.
★Shomie-ku (正御影供) is held on every year April 21st. In Shomie-ku, the memorial service is held in Daishi-do (Mie-do, Fudo-do) and Kanjo-in. After the service, 3 ema (votive picture horses) are displayed in the akai (water well), and are open to the public. The ema are used to predict the growth of the economy and the abundance of crops, depending on the physique of the horse.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is around early April. About 200 cherry trees such as Somei Yoshino and Fujizakura, which is said to be over 130 years old, are planted in the temple grounds. To-ji Temple is illuminated every year around the time of the cherry blossoms, and a special night viewing is held. (night illumination, 桜ライトアップ)
東寺桜ライトアップ (To-ji Temple night illumination)
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to late November. Maple trees and other plants are distributed in the temple grounds. To-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)
東寺紅葉ライトアップ (To-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: +81-75-691-3325

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from To-ji Temple is via Nishi Hongan-ji Temple to HigashiHongan-ji Temple. Nishi Honganji Temple is a World Heritage Site, as is To-ji Temple, so a 1-hour walk will take you around the both World Heritage Sites. Since To-ji Temple, Nishi Hongan-ji Temple, and Higashi Hongan-ji Temple are all located near JR Kyoto Station and Kyoto Subway Station, which are transportation hubs, it may be a good idea to take a walk at the beginning or end of your trip.

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