- Daitokuji Map
- Daitokuji Biko
- Daitokuji Kyoto
Daitokuji is the head temple of the Daitokuji school of Rinzai, a sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism. Located in the temple city of Kyoto, Daitokuji is considered one of the best places to experience Zen in Japan.
B-ko Daitokuji (大徳寺美子 Daitokuji Biiko) is a childhood nemesis of the main duo. She is in love with C-ko but A-ko always seemed to be better liked. She develops robots to fight on her behalf (or an enhanced suit of power armor). She is very rich and has a gang of 4 friends.
- Daitoku-ji temple translates to (大徳寺, the ‘temple of Great Virtue’. This Buddhist temple has 22 sub temples to my surprise of which 8 are open to the public. These sub temples were built as Zen became the Buddhist sect of choice for samurai warriors.
- Daitokuji-dori Street. Nestled to the northwest of downtown Kyoto and west of the Kamogawa River along Kitayama-dori Street, this area has developed as an old residential area and is known to locals as “Shichiku.”. This time, we’ll be introducing Daitokuji-dori Street and Omiya-dori Street, two streets that run vertically through the.
History of Daitokuji
Daitokuji was established in 1319 by Shohomyocho, also known as Daitokokushi. After its construction in the 14th century, the temple was frequented by Emperor Go-Daigo of Japan and its mountain was counted as one of the five sacred moutains. But after the Ashikaga shogunate was established, it was removed from the list and the shogunate chose to ignore it in favor of temples that had not openly opposed them.
The monks of Daitokuji accordingly decided to stay away from meddling in politics and to focus on Zen practices. But during the Onin War, some of its temples were burned down. The temple was subsequently rebuilt by rich merchants of Sakai, Osaka. After the Ashikaga shogunate fell, many daimyo donated and supported Daitokuji. Many of Daitokuji's temples were constructed before and in the early Edo period. The first of the three gates was constructed in 1526.
Ikkyu and Sen no Rikyu are two of many famous people who had been influenced by Daitokuji. Legend has it that Sen no Rikyu completed two of Daitokuji's three gates in 1589 and this was his undoing. He placed a statue of himself on top of the second gate, and Hideyoshi Toyotomi realized that he and everyone else who passed through the gate to enter would be looked down on by the statue. According to the legend, he ordered that the offending statue be removed and that Sen no Rikyu commit seppuku. While history does record that Sen no Rikyu commited seppuku, the reason is not known for certain. Sep 12 for mac.
What to See
The mountain in which the Daitokuji complex was built is known as Ryuhozan (Dragon Treasure Mountain). Daitokuji is surrounded by 24 subtemples, which together form a kind of temple village. The main temple and some of the subtemples are open to the public and display Zen architecture and design, including gardens and tea ceremony rooms. There are two high-quality vegetarian restaurants on the grounds, and some of the temples offer Zen meditation lessons.
Among the most interesting subtemples are Kotoin, which is famous for its maple trees (particularly spectacular when the leaves turn color, usually in mid November) and moss garden; and Daisenin, whose small rock garden is considered one of the best. Ryogenin features a miniature Zen garden that is reportedly the smallest in Japan, and Zuihoin is noted for its natural simplicity.
Getting There
From Kyoto Station, Daitokuji is best accessed by the Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaoji Station, from where the temple complex is a 5 minute bus ride or 15 minute walk.
Quick Facts on Daitokuji
| Site Information |
| Names: | Daitokuji |
|---|
| Country: | Japan |
|---|
| Visitor and Contact Information |
| Coordinates: | 35.043500° N, 135.746067° E |
|---|
| Address: | Kyoto, Japan |
|---|
| Lodging: | View hotels near Daitokuji |
|---|
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.Daitokuji Map
More Information
- Photos of Daitokuji - here on Sacred Destinations
Map of Daitokuji, Kyoto
Commandos 3 for mac os x. Below is a location map and aerial view of Daitokuji. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.
Nestled to the northwest of downtown Kyoto and west of the Kamogawa River along Kitayama-dori Street, this area has developed as an old residential area and is known to locals as “Shichiku.” This time, we’ll be introducing Daitokuji-dori Street and Omiya-dori Street, two streets that run vertically through the Shichiku area. This hidden gem of an area, a stone’s throw away from the bustling city center and tourist spots, where a quaint old shopping street coexists alongside new yet aesthetically unpretentious shops, is starting to get noticed. Showing us around this time is Ryoko Mizokami, local resident and co-owner of the furniture and general store Kijirushi.
Characteristics of the Shichiku area
“Kuga-jinja Shrine opposite our shop was called Omiya a long time ago. Apparently, the shrine grounds used to be much bigger and this whole area all the way to Omiya Traffic Park was a forest called Omiya Forest. That’s why there are huge trees at the shrine and the park even now,” Ryoko says, her story stirring the imagination. The Shichiku area flourished with Kuga-jinja Shrine at its center. The traditional shopping street still does a lively trade and the scattering of stylish new shops bring a relaxed yet modern air, giving this pocket of Kyoto a unique feel.
At the northern end of this area are the remains of the stone Odoi wall, constructed in 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man of power at the time, to protect the city from enemy attacks as well as flooding of the Kamogawa River. And at the southern end is Daitoku-ji Temple, one of Japan’s biggest Zen temples. The temple is strongly associated with Zen monk Ikkyu Sojun and the great tea master Sen no Rikyu, two famous characters in Japanese folklore. This area continues to evolve while preserving traces of history. I was filled with anticipation as we set off, wondering what Ryoko, who calls this place home, would tell me.
Daitokuji Biko
We leave Kuga-jinja Shrine and go left, heading south along Daitokuji-dori Street. Ryoko snaps away with her camera as we walk along the residential street with its many traditional townhouses. “I’m drawn to the latticework on the windows of the old townhouses and the moss on the stone walls, all the things that give a sense of time having passed.” Her words are also reflected in Kijirushi’s motto of “future vintage.” Musing over what she thinks of items that can still be used way beyond ten or twenty years, “We pursue the ultimate in simplicity,” she says. While this is the couple’s approach when crafting furniture and selecting products for the shop, it also seems to be important when Ryoko chooses items to use in her everyday life.
After walking for about ten minutes, we see the stone wall surrounding the grounds of Daitoku-ji Temple. “I’ve noticed that the leaves that fall on the road in front of a temple or shrine are swept up by the people living nearby,” Ryoko tells me as we look up at all the big trees growing over the top of the stone wall. “Sure events and festivals are popular, but this shows that people quietly take good care of temples and shrines regularly.” Hearing this, I noticed that the respect that every resident has towards old things that remain after many years has been fostered in this street where both old and new exist in splendid harmony. At the same time, there is also the view that the street of today will also be passed on to the next generation. That’s why the sensibility of the times and the successors is accepted, and renewal cherished. I can feel that this idea of continuity and renewal is enriching this neighborhood. Kijirushi, too, with its motto of “future vintage” has arrived at the idea of simple furniture that suits any environment because of this mindset. But it is not just about simply handing over to the next generation, it is the assumption that successors will modernize how it is used in line with the times and their personalities, and leaving them room to do so. Maybe that is simplicity.
“Have you heard of Daitokuji Natto?” Ryoko asks me as the entrance to Daitoku-ji Temple comes into view. “The soybeans are fermented and dried so they are salty and slightly sour. They are very nutritious, so the Buddhist priests of Daitoku-ji Temple used them as medicine and supplements,” she explains. She says that she looked up the nutrients when she found out about Daitokuji Natto. Her interest and inquisitive nature towards traditions that have been passed down since old times shows in every conversation.
“I do almost all my shopping at local shops instead of the supermarket. Take fruit for example. It doesn’t always taste good at the supermarket, but there is a fruit shop in the shopping street where I know the fruit will always be top quality. I also like being able to buy locally-sourced produce,” Ryoko says. I can tell that she is just as particular about her food as she is about the items she uses in her daily life.
“There are lots of shops in this area, so there are lots of established cafés where workers drop in for a break and that’s why there is a strong coffee culture here,” Ryoko continues. Sure enough, there are several cafés and coffee bean roasters and retailers along the street. “And it’s not just old cafés. It’s surprising how many new coffee shops are being opened up by young people,” Ryoko says with a smile. The shopping street also has a facility called Shin-Omiya Hiroba, where young people can set up a pop-up stall before opening their own shop, and where flea markets and other events are hosted. Increasing numbers of shopping streets are dying out these days with the increase in big stores. But Shin-Omiya Shopping Street is very much alive with the perfect mix of the quiet calmness born from the sense of security that the old shops are supporting the lives of residents, and the fresh liveliness that the new shops bring.
“It may not be a hive of activity, but it’s all we need. Living in this area where it’s the perfect level of relaxed, not too urban and not too country, I find I no longer want to go into town where it’s really noisy. I particularly don’t want to go to a big city now with COVID-19, so that’s just as well,” Ryoko says softly. Perhaps a hint as to how life may be from now on lies in the laid-back lifestyle of the Shichiku area.
Daitokuji Kyoto