Jingo-ji
Takao, Kyoto
- Daily
- 9:00 to 16:00
Source: jingoji.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Jingo-ji is a Shingon temple in the Takao hills north-west of the city. Kukai, who brought Shingon to Japan, was its abbot for 14 years from 809, and the temple took its present name when it was handed to him in 824. From the lookout you can throw small clay discs called kawarake into the valley to get rid of bad luck, and it's a popular spot for autumn leaves.
Insider tip
Entry is ¥1,000. JR Bus from Kyoto Station takes about 50 minutes to the Takao stop (City Bus 8 from Shijo-Karasuma about 45), then it's a 20-minute walk. Kozan-ji is on the same bus routes, so it's easy to do both.
What the guides say about Jingo-ji
At Jingo-ji (¥1,000), where Kukai was abbot from 809, you throw small clay discs called kawarake off the lookout to get rid of bad luck. It's a 20-minute walk from the Takao stop. Kozan-ji, at the Toganoo stop, is the temple of the Choju-giga, the scrolls of rabbits, monkeys and frogs at play like people, and its grounds are free except in autumn (¥500). JR Bus from Kyoto Station takes about 50 minutes to Takao and 55 to Toganoo. It's all inside the city's flat-fare zone, so the ¥1,100 subway and bus one-day pass covers it.
Tickets and tours
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What's on at Jingo-ji
Upcoming events at Jingo-ji and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Jingo-ji Daishido Hall Special Opening
神護寺 大師堂特別拝観 板彫弘法大師像御開帳
Time 9:00 to 16:00 Station Takao bus stop (JR Bus), then about 20 min walk
The temple opens the Daishido hall to show its carved wooden image of Kobo Daishi for one week. A commemorative goshuin stamp is given out during the period.
Nankou Oronain, CC BY-SA 3.0 Jingo-ji Treasure Airing
神護寺 虫払い行事 寺宝の特別公開
Time 9:00 to 16:00 Station Takao bus stop (JR Bus), 20 min walk
Once a year in fresh-green season the temple airs its treasures, including the National Treasure portrait long said to be Minamoto no Yoritomo, and opens the stone garden of its study hall.
Nankou Oronain, CC BY-SA 3.0 Jingo-ji Five Great Kokuzo Bodhisattva Spring Opening
神護寺 五大虚空蔵菩薩像 春季御開帳
Station Takao bus stop (JR Bus), 20 min walk
Dates are the usual pattern: spring 2026 ran 13 to 15 May. The temple opens its Five Great Kokuzo Bodhisattva images in the Tahoto pagoda.
Nankou Oronain, CC BY-SA 3.0 Jingo-ji Five Great Kokuzo Bodhisattva Autumn Opening
神護寺 五大虚空蔵菩薩像 秋季御開帳
Station Takao bus stop (JR Bus), 20 min walk
Dates are the usual pattern: autumn 2026 ran 10 to 12 October, the three-day holiday weekend that includes Sports Day. The temple opens its Five Great Kokuzo Bodhisattva images in the Tahoto pagoda.
Nankou Oronain, CC BY-SA 3.0 Takao Mononoke Yuzan Yokai Halloween
高雄物怪遊山 ー京の奥座敷で妖怪ハロウィン
Time 11:00 to 17:00
A Halloween day in the Takao mountains with a yokai tea house, yokai mask making and a yokai riddle trail. No reservation is needed and it goes ahead in rain. Mask making costs 1,000 yen and the riddle kit 1,500 yen.
Smaller local events nearby
Itabori Kobo Daishi opening at Jingo-ji Festival
1 to 7 Nov · Daishi-do, Jingo-ji, Takao
Jingo-ji lists an opening of its carved wooden Kobo Daishi image at the Daishi-do hall from 1 to 7 November.
500 yen for the Daishi-do hall, plus 1,000 yen temple admission · Map · Source: Jingo-ji · 神護寺 板彫弘法大師御開帳
Monthly goma fire ritual at Jingo-ji Festival
Sun 8 Nov, Sun 13 Dec, Sun 10 Jan · Myoo-do, Jingo-ji, Takao
Jingo-ji holds a goma prayer at the Myoo-do hall at 14:00 on the second Sunday of the month, with the principal image Fudo Myoo (mid-Heian) on view. The January session is the Hatsu-daigoma, and the temple says times can change.
Map · Source: Jingo-ji · 神護寺 明王堂の護摩ご祈祷
Nearby
Good to know
- What is the address of Jingo-ji?
- 5 Umegahata Takao-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市右京区梅ヶ畑高雄町5番地).
- What are the opening hours of Jingo-ji?
- Daily 9:00 to 16:00.
- How do I get to Jingo-ji?
- The nearest station is Takao bus stop (JR Bus, City Bus 8). Jingo-ji is in Takao, Kyoto.
- How much does Jingo-ji cost?
- Jingo-ji is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Jingo-ji?
- Plan for 1-2 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Jingo-ji?
- November.
Stay near Jingo-ji
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