Kyoto

Magical Enkoji Temple

Site of the Rakuyo School that shaped Japanese culture

Takako Sakamoto Oct 24, 2014 - 1 min read

Japan's four seasons are expressed in these paintings on the sliding doors

A sui-kinkutsu (water koto cave) is a Japanese garden ornament. Its refreshing cool sound invites you into a magical world.

The Garden of Ju-gyu (Ten Oxen) is a strolling garden centered around a pond

Okyo's Bamboo Grove borrows scenery from the Garden of Ten Oxen).  It was designed by Maruyama Okyo. The sunshine filtering through the bamboo grove is soft and beautiful

Fallen leaves on the moss-covered garden...the climax of autumn leaves season!

At the top of the hill is Toshogu Shrine which enshrines the founder of this temple, Tokugawa Ieyasu

The mausoleum of Toshogu Shrine has a commanding view of the northern area of Kyoto

Notice

Autumn Foliage viewing at Enkoji from 15 November until 10 December 2020 requires a <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdO61713rIpA95Ho5BYTsHDfegpg2EVduSWLRdPfs4oyOs_iA/viewform">reservation</a>.

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When I walk eastward on Kita-Shirakawa Street in northern Kyoto, I find houses crowded on both sides of narrow streets. This is the townscape of my childhood in my hometown, Kyoto!

Turning left on the narrow street in front of Shisendo, I walk about fifty meters, and see Enkoji Temple there. This temple originated from the Rakuyo School, which was founded by THE power of the time, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The liberal and open atmosphere of the school fostered many scholars, painters and literary figures. This school influenced the development of Japanese culture. The temple, which is a legacy of that cultural contribution, stands silently in a corner of Rakuhoku area of Kyoto.

I visited this temple in early December to appreciate the beauty of Ju-gyu-no Niwa (Garden of Ten Oxen), which is strolling garden centered around a pond.

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Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...