Chishaku-in
Higashiyama, Kyoto
- Daily
- 9:00 to 16:30
Last entry 16:00. The garden closes 29 to 31 December, and the treasure hall also on 31 January, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October.
Source: chisan.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Chishaku-in is the head temple of the Chizan branch of Shingon Buddhism, at the east end of Shichijo-dori. Its treasure hall, opened in 2023, always shows the National Treasure panels by Hasegawa Tohaku and his studio, including his Maple and the Cherry Blossoms attributed to his son Kyuzo. The garden is modelled on China's Mount Lu, and its pond runs in under the veranda of the Daishoin hall.
Insider tip
The garden and the treasure hall are ¥500 each. The garden's at its best when the azaleas and satsuki flower, mid April to mid June. No eating on the grounds, and no tripods.
Tickets and tours
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What's on at Chishaku-in
Upcoming events at Chishaku-in and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Chishaku-in Night Viewing
智積院 夜間特別拝観
Time 17:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:40) Station Shichijo (Keihan), 10 min walk
Chishaku-in lights the approach to its Kondo hall and the bell tower among the autumn leaves. The treasure house, with the Hasegawa Tohaku school's National Treasure wall paintings, stays closed at night, and children 12 and under go free.
Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY 4.0 Chisan Momiji-tsuki Autumn Leaves Light-up at Chishaku-in
智山紅葉月 智積院ライトアップ
Time 17:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:40) Station Keihan Shichijo, 10 min walk
Evening autumn-leaf light-up in the grounds of Chishaku-in, head temple of the Chizan branch of Shingon Buddhism. Tickets sold on site from 17:00.
Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY 4.0 New Year's Eve Bell at Chishaku-in
智積院 除夜の鐘
Time After the service, 23:40 to 0:40 Station Bus Higashiyama Shichijo
Visitors ring the bell after a service and protective charms are given out from 23:40 to 0:40.
Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY 4.0 Imahie Festival
新日吉祭（いまひえまつり）
Time From noon Station Higashiyama-Shichijo bus stop, 7 min walk
A festival once watched by retired emperors, with a procession of sword-halberds, palanquins and child generals around Shichijo, and a departure rite at noon.
Hitaki-sai Fire Festival at Imahie Shrine
新日吉神宮 火焚祭
Time 15:00 to about 17:30 Station Bus Higashiyama Shichijo, 7 min walk
After a rite and kagura offering, hot-water kagura is performed and prayer sticks are burned. Limited grilled mandarin oranges are offered.
Nearby
Around Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera at opening, then the temples and pottery below it
Higashiyama is a whole ward, but this guide covers the slope from Kiyomizu-dera down to Shichijo-dori. Go early. The temple's gates open at 6:00, and if you're there then, you'll reach its wooden stage long before the day's crowds. Later, walk down past the pottery shops of Gojozaka to Sanjusangendo, where 1,001 statues of Kannon stand in a hall 120 metres long.
Higashiyama has 22 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 10 shrines and temples, 4 shops, 2 museums, 2 neighbourhoods, 1 cafe, 1 viewpoint, 1 restaurant and 1 landmark. Read the Higashiyama guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Chishaku-in?
- 964 Higashikawara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都府京都市東山区東瓦町964番地).
- What are the opening hours of Chishaku-in?
- Daily 9:00 to 16:30. Last entry 16:00. The garden closes 29 to 31 December, and the treasure hall also on 31 January, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October.
- How do I get to Chishaku-in?
- The nearest station is Higashiyama-Shichijo bus stop (City Bus 206, 208). Chishaku-in is in Higashiyama, Kyoto.
- How much does Chishaku-in cost?
- Chishaku-in is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Chishaku-in?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Chishaku-in?
- Mid April to mid June.
Stay near Chishaku-in
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