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Kodai-ji Review

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Kodai-ji

Address: Higashiyama, Kyoto

Category: Religious Sites
Location: Kyoto

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Fodor's Review:

This quiet temple established in the early 17th century provides a tranquil alternative to the crowds of nearby Kiyomizu-dera. The temple was built as a memorial to Hideyoshi Toyotomi by his wife, Kita-no-Mandokoro, who became a nun here after her husband died—a common practice at the time. The famous 17th-century landscaper Kobori Enshu designed the gardens, which include the Heart of Waves, where wavy raked gravel encircles a small mound. The teahouse above on the hill, designed by tea master Sen-no-Rikyu, has a unique umbrella-shape bamboo ceiling and a thatched roof. In November this temple is lighted up until 9 PM. From Kyoto Station take Bus 206 to the Higashiyama-yasui bus stop.

Cost: ¥500
Open: Apr.-Nov., daily 9-4:30; Dec.-Mar., daily 9-4

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