Tofukuji Temple

Tofuku-ji is the head temple of the Tofuku-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen school in Kyoto’s Higashiyama area. It was founded by Regent Kujo Michiie, who sought to build Kyoto’s greatest temple as a memorial for his grandfather, naming it after Nara’s Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji. The founding priest was Enni Ben’en (Shoichi Kokushi), who traveled to Song China at age 34, spent six years there, and after returning was invited by Kujo Michiie to open the temple. The precincts cover about 50,000 tsubo and include major buildings such as the Sanmon Gate, Main Hall, Hojo, and Kuri, along with 25 sub-temples. The Hojo gardens were created in 1939 by modern garden designer Mirei Shigemori, blending the austere spirit of the Kamakura period with abstract modern artistic elements. The temple is most crowded during autumn foliage season, when the valley and bridges are colored brilliantly. The maple trees under Tsutenkyo Bridge spanning Sen’gyokukan are known as “Tsuten Autumn Leaves,” and the view from the bridge is especially famous. In recent years, the fresh green season has also become popular under the name “Aomomiji” (green maples).