{"id":11443,"date":"2019-12-20T11:31:53","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T10:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?p=11443"},"modified":"2021-04-01T09:57:46","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T07:57:46","slug":"toji-temple-kyoto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto","title":{"rendered":"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Access and attractions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Kyoto is a city steeped in history. It is home to 17 of the 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites declared in Japan. Entering certain areas of this modern city is like stepping back in time.<\/p>\n<p>Toji Temple is one of those sites. It is home to a <strong>the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan<\/strong>. Its name means \u201cEast Temple\u201d in Japanese, and it was founded in 796. At one time there was also a \u201cWest Temple,\u201d called Saiji, but today only its sister, Toji, remains.<\/p>\n<p>In spring, the temple grounds are a favored spot for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/best-cherry-blossom-spots-in-japan\">viewing cherry blossoms<\/a>, including a huge, photo-worthy weeping cherry. Check out this travel guide to see all that Toji Temple has to offer.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_white no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#History_of_Toji_temple\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> History of Toji temple<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Toji_Temple_buildings\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Toji Temple buildings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Kobo-Ichi_flea_market\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Kobo-Ichi flea market<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Toji_Temple_by_night\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> Toji Temple by night<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_get_to_Toji_Temple\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">5<\/span> How to get to Toji Temple<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Admission\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">6<\/span> Admission<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"History_of_Toji_temple\">History of Toji temple<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Toji Temple was <strong>founded during Japan\u2019s Heian Period<\/strong>, after the nation\u2019s capital was moved to Kyoto <strong>in the 700s<\/strong>. Along with its sister temple, the Kyoogokuji, as it was then called, stood at the gates of the Heian capital. Its original name meant \u201cThe Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the King of Doctrines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thirty years later, the founder of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, Kobo Daishi, became the temple\u2019s head priest. This made Toji one of the most important temples to <strong>Shingon Buddhism<\/strong>, second only to the sect\u2019s headquarters on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/mount-koya\">Mount Koya<\/a>. Many of the buildings still standing on the temple grounds were added under Daishi\u2019s oversight.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Toji Temple is ranked among the many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/unesco-world-heritage-sites-in-japan\">UNESCO World Heritage Sites declared in Japan<\/a> in Kyoto.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Toji_Temple_buildings\">Toji Temple buildings<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Kondo Hall<\/strong> is the temple\u2019s main hall and its largest building. The original structure was destroyed in a fire in 1486, but rebuilt during the Edo Period. It houses a large wooden statue of the Yakushi or Medicine Buddha and his attendants, the Gakko and Nikko Bodhisattvas of the moon and sun. The Buddha statue dates to 1603.<\/p>\n<p>Beside the Kondo Hall is the <strong>Kodo Hall<\/strong>. This hall was added to the grounds by Kobo Daishi in 825. It served as a lecture hall. It also burned in the fire that destroyed the Kondo Hall. It was later rebuilt in its original style. The Kodo Hall is home to 19 statues of the Dainichi Buddha, others buddhas, bodhisattvas, and guardian kings that Daishi brought from China.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond these halls lies the famous five-storied pagoda, another Kobo Daishi original erected in 826 and rebuilt in 1643. This is the<strong> tallest wooden pagoda in Japan<\/strong> at 57 meters (187 feet). It can be spotted from various places around Kyoto, including the nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/kyoto-tower\">Kyoto Tower<\/a>, and it has become a symbol of the city. Its bottom story houses four small Buddha statues and is sometimes open to the public.<\/p>\n<p>West of the pagoda is the <strong>Miedo or Founder\u2019s Hall<\/strong>, which features a statue of Daishi himself. The Homotsukan Museum serves as the temple\u2019s treasure house. There, you can view Buddhist statues and artifacts.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Kobo-Ichi_flea_market\">Kobo-Ichi flea market<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Kobo-Ichi or Kobo-san flea market, also known as <strong>Toji Temple Flea Market<\/strong>, is held on the <strong>twenty-first day of each month<\/strong>, from the early morning until about 4:30 pm. The date honors Kobo Daishi, who died on March 21.<\/p>\n<p>Vendors sell <strong>new and vintage items, clothing, kimonos<\/strong>, antiques, toys, food, plants, and more. A smaller market is also held on the first Sunday of each month. The market is located in the plaza and park surrounding the temple grounds.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Toji_Temple_by_night\">Toji Temple by night<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/japan-cherry-blossom-forecast\">cherry blossom season<\/a>, night illumination is provided to light up by the temple and its garden. <strong>Pink illuminated cherry blossoms<\/strong> against a jet black night sky is a breathtaking sight.<\/p>\n<p>The temple itself is also transformed. Its dark outer appearance gives way to gold under the illuminating lights.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11449\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11449\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-11449\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/toji-temple-weeping-cherry-tree-e1576837694651-800x604.jpg\" alt=\"Weeping cherry tree in Toji temple\" width=\"800\" height=\"604\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11449\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Fuji Zakura (weeping cherry tree) in Toji Temple is over 130 years old<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_get_to_Toji_Temple\">How to get to Toji Temple<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Toji Temple is easy to reach using your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\">Japan Rail Pass<\/a>. Use your JR Pass to access Kyoto Station. Toji Temple is located southwest of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/kyoto-train-station\">Kyoto Station<\/a>. On foot, it can be reached in 15 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Also, you can also reach it in a five minute walk from the Toji Station, on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line, which is the next stop from Kyoto Station (2 minutes, 160 yen for the trip).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n            <a class=\"fasc-button banner-button-shortcode fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium ico-fa fasc-ico-after fa-chevron-circle-right fasc-style-bold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/the-japan-rail-pass\">\n                Buy your JR Pass\n            <\/a>\n        <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Admission\">Admission<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Toji Temple is <strong>open daily from 8 am to 5 pm<\/strong>. <strong>The entrance fee is generally 500 yen,<\/strong> but is increased to 800 yen during special openings of the pagoda.<\/p>\n<p>Night illumination takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 pm during the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kyoto is a city steeped in history. It is home to 17 of the 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites declared in Japan. Entering certain areas of this modern city is like stepping back in time. Toji Temple is one of those sites. It is home to a the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan. Its name means \u201cEast Temple\u201d in Japanese, and it was founded in 796. At one time there was also a \u201cWest Temple,\u201d called Saiji, but today only its sister, Toji, remains. In spring, the temple grounds are a favored spot for viewing cherry blossoms, including a huge, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Toji Temple in Kyoto: Access and attractions&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11444,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23],"tags":[],"acf":{"bread_1":false,"bread_2":false,"bread_3":false,"bread_4":false,"bread_5":false,"bread_6":false,"bread_7":false,"bread_last":false,"custom_guide":"Kyoto","pageresume":"Toji Temple, one of Kyotos UNESCO heritage sites, is home to the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan and a 130 year old weeping cherry tree.","shortcodes":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Toji Temple in Kyoto: Travel Guide - Japan Rail Pass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to visit the large Toji Temple, near Kyoto Station, is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan and one of many of Kyoto&#039;s Unesco World Heritage Sites.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11443\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Travel Guide - Japan Rail Pass\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to visit the large Toji Temple, near Kyoto Station, is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan and one of many of Kyoto&#039;s Unesco World Heritage Sites.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-12-20T10:31:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-04-01T07:57:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/kyoto-toji-temple-e1576834278114.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"534\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"JRailPass\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"JRailPass\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0af8e877c84593eb4df7dcd8cc76bbb2\"},\"headline\":\"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Access and attractions\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-20T10:31:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-01T07:57:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\"},\"wordCount\":768,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Kyoto\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\",\"name\":\"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Travel Guide - Japan Rail Pass\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-20T10:31:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-01T07:57:46+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how to visit the large Toji Temple, near Kyoto Station, is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan and one of many of Kyoto's Unesco World Heritage Sites.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Japan Travel Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Access and attractions\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass\",\"description\":\"Discover Japan by train with the Japan Rail Pass\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png\",\"width\":214,\"height\":60,\"caption\":\"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0af8e877c84593eb4df7dcd8cc76bbb2\",\"name\":\"JRailPass\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Travel Guide - Japan Rail Pass","description":"Learn how to visit the large Toji Temple, near Kyoto Station, is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan and one of many of Kyoto's Unesco World Heritage Sites.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11443","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Travel Guide - Japan Rail Pass","og_description":"Learn how to visit the large Toji Temple, near Kyoto Station, is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan and one of many of Kyoto's Unesco World Heritage Sites.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto","og_site_name":"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass","article_published_time":"2019-12-20T10:31:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-04-01T07:57:46+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":534,"url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/kyoto-toji-temple-e1576834278114.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"JRailPass","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto"},"author":{"name":"JRailPass","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0af8e877c84593eb4df7dcd8cc76bbb2"},"headline":"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Access and attractions","datePublished":"2019-12-20T10:31:53+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-01T07:57:46+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto"},"wordCount":768,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Kyoto"],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto","name":"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Travel Guide - Japan Rail Pass","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2019-12-20T10:31:53+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-01T07:57:46+00:00","description":"Learn how to visit the large Toji Temple, near Kyoto Station, is home to the tallest pagoda in Japan and one of many of Kyoto's Unesco World Heritage Sites.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/toji-temple-kyoto#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Japan Travel Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Toji Temple in Kyoto: Access and attractions"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/","name":"Japan Rail Pass Travel Blog | JRailPass","description":"Discover Japan by train with the Japan Rail Pass","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logo.png","width":214,"height":60,"caption":"Japan Rail Pass S.L. - JRailPass.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0af8e877c84593eb4df7dcd8cc76bbb2","name":"JRailPass","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11443"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}