Kenninji Temple

What to know

Kenninji (建仁寺) is a Zen temple located just south of Kyoto's famous Gion entertainment district. It is one of the head temples of the Rinzai sect of Japanese Buddhism and ranks third among Kyoto's five great Zen temples.

Founded in 1202 by Eisai (also known as Yosai), the monk who introduced both Zen Buddhism and tea cultivation to Japan after studying in China, Kenninji is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.

The temple complex includes several large halls and gates, surrounded by about two dozen smaller buildings. Most of the grounds are freely open to the public, but an admission fee is required to enter the main buildings at the center. Inside the paid area, visitors can explore the interiors and enjoy a variety of gravel and moss gardens.

Highlights include dragon paintings on sliding doors and a gilded folding screen featuring the famous wind and thunder gods. The ceiling of the Dharma Hall is adorned with twin dragons, a mural commissioned in 2002 for the temple's 800th anniversary.

Kenninji Temple is at the southern end of Hanamikoji Street in Gion. The nearest stations are Gion Shijo Station (Keihan Line) and Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu Line), about a ten-minute walk away.