Entokuin Temple

This is the location of a small, charming temple with a classic Momoyama-style garden. It is an area devoted to the Buddhist principles of peace and tranquility. The shrine itself is small and pretty, but the multicolored gardens steal the show. Built for an ancient warrior, along with its accompanying Kōdai-ji complex, the shrine plays host to special displays of traditional sliding-door paintings and light shows after the sun goes down.

Stroll through the Zen gardens to feel at one with nature and tranquility. Come here at the beginning of summer to see the flowers bloom and be consumed by the grace and aesthetic beauty of the site. Enjoy the vibrant reds and greens of the foliage. Gaze at the illuminated temple and grounds at sunset during evening light shows.

Marvel at the temple’s sliding-door paintings on special exhibition days throughout the year. The garden fits the style of the Momoyama Period toward the end of the 16th century. The design is wholly Japanese in that it is devoid of any outside influence.

Take a short trip to the surrounding Kōdai-ji complex to see a range of traditional temples, which are part of the Rinzai division of Zen Buddhism. They also contain elaborate interiors and exquisite gardens.

A grieving widow constructed the temples to honor her late husband, the legendary warrior and politician Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The Entokuin Temple is open for visits every day of the year. There is an admission fee.

The shrine is part of the Kōdai-ji complex, which is situated in the Higashiyama District of Kyoto. The region is in the northeastern sector of the city, and the Higashiyama Yasui bus stop is nearby. Kyoto Station, one of the main train stations in the city, is 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away. Buses from the station to the temple run regularly. Other nearby train stations are Kiyomizu Gojo and Gion-Shijō.