Daikakuji: Kyoto's Best Kept Secret

A secluded temple that will keep you amazed for hours

Larry Knipfing Feb 07, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Beautiful noren curtain at the main entrance hall</p>

<p>The hall done up in red lacquer is gorgeous</p>

<p>One of the buildings features a series of rabbit paintings on its walls</p>

<p>Small section of the maze of covered wooden corridors which connect the temple buildings</p>

<p>A peek into an open door, across a small garden and sprinkling of snow</p>

<p>Gold lantern with tinges of red from the wood</p>

I didn't know what to expect when I visited Daikaku-ji Temple. It truly amazed me. The temple grounds stretch out wide, with all the buildings connected by a great (but well marked) maze of gorgeous wooden corridors. There are gardens to look at, bright red lacquered sections of walkway that are as smooth as silk, and off in the distance a pagoda and centuries-old man made lake filled with lotus. And beyond that, there is even a bamboo grove. The temple is also host to the Saga Goryū school of Ikebana, so there is really a lot to enjoy. I stayed for two hours, and left feeling excited and refreshed.

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Larry Knipfing @larry.knipfing

Born on Long Island, New York in 1958, I have spent the last 30 years of my life living in Japan, and enjoying every minute of it! I especially love photography, and Japan is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world to photograph! My other love is fiction writing and I have pub...