Daigoji Temple, established in 874 and designated as a World Heritage Site, is renowned as a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing. It is where Toyotomi Hideyoshi famously hosted his “Daigo no Hanami” cherry blossom viewing party. The temple’s magnificent grounds, adorned with two national treasures; a stunning five-story pagoda (五重塔) and Kondō (金堂 Golden Hall) and other historic buildings, are adorned with around 700 cherry trees, including weeping cherry trees, someiyoshino cherry trees, mountain cherry trees, and double-flowered cherry trees. During my recent visit to Daigoji Temple, I had the privilege of experiencing the spectacular beauty of the cherry blossoms at their peak. In this blog post, I will share some of the most breathtaking highlights of my visit.
The path in front of Reihokan is a wonderfully beautiful street where you can enjoy a tunnel of cherry blossoms!
Layout of the Temple
There are three areas on the temple grounds: Reihōkan, Sanbō-in, and Garan, and a common ticket for all three areas is available with ¥1500 for Spacial Sakura season (3/20~ the last day of Golden Week in May)
Daigoji ticket for special spring season
This ticket allows visitors to enjoy all three areas, but the inside of Sanbō-in’s Shoin is an extra charge.
Sanbō-in Area 三宝院エリア
Entering from the main gate first, the Sanbō-in is the nearest one. As soon as you enter, weeping cherry trees greet you and you can see the wonderful Japanese garden.
However, there are not many cherry trees in this Sanbō-in area. It seems they are more focused on the Japanese garden.
Also, the Karamon gate 唐門 is eye-catching with its beautiful decoration.
Reihōkan Area 霊宝館エリア (The best 🌸 viewing area!)
The cherry blossoms in this area are the most spectacular of the three areas! There are more than 40 cherry trees in the Reihōkan area and you can indulge in the beauty of various cherry blossom species. The temple grounds boast of stunning weeping cherry trees and lovely pink Yaezakura (double-flowered cherry tree) cherry trees, offering a diverse and delightful experience for all visitors.
It was 9:30 in the morning when I arrived at this area, and it was already crowded with people.
With the admission ticket, you can of course enter the Reihōkan museum. The museum houses more than 75,000 pieces of national treasures and important cultural properties alone, and about 100,000 pieces of temple treasures including undesignated cultural properties. The temple houses sculptures, paintings, crafts, old documents, and other materials valuable in the history of Buddhism and art in Japan.
Garan Area 伽藍エリア
One of the main attractions at Daigoji Temple is its two national treasure buildings; Five-story pagoda 五重塔 and Kondō 金堂.
The oldest wooden structure in Kyoto, the five-story pagoda, is a must-see. While the title for the oldest wooden structure in Japan belongs to Hōryuji Temple in Nara, the stunning beauty of the pagoda combined with the cherry blossoms makes for an unforgettable photography opportunity.
Sakura, five-story pagoda and me
Further into the Kami-Daigo area, there is Kannondō 観音堂, the 11th Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and Bentendō 弁天堂, with its beautiful red drum bridge.
Further back, there was a charming small waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. While the area is filled with foliage trees, making it a stunning destination during autumn, the fresh greenery in spring is equally delightful. As I basked in the serene atmosphere, I couldn’t help but think of revisiting this spot during the fall season. 🍁
Access & Map
By train
From Kyoto Municipal Subway Daigo Station to Daigoji Temple takes about 10 minutes on foot.
Taxi
From Kyoto Station to Daigoji Temple costs about 3,000 yen and takes about 20 minutes.
Google Map
https://goo.gl/maps/o78HCbSSWBu8qxv56
Opening Hours
March 1 to the first Sunday in December: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
From the day after the first Sunday in December to the last day of February: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
I’m absolutely thrilled to have completed this unforgettable experience of visiting Daigoji Temple during the cherry blossom season! My heart is bursting with gratitude for this incredible opportunity to witness the breathtaking beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms and indulge in the richness of Japanese culture. I hope that my exhilarating experience will inspire you to soak in the splendor of Daigoji Temple and revel in the beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms.