Temple

Seigan-ji

Kawaramachi, Kyoto

Address
453 Sakuranocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 〒604-8035 京都府京都市中京区新京極桜之町453（新京極通り六角下る）
Hours
Daily
9:00 to 17:00

Source: ja.kyoto.travel, checked 11 Oct 2026.

The front of Seigan-ji on Shinkyogoku, with red pillars, white paper lanterns and a stone marker before the hall
Photo: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Seigan-ji, halfway along Shinkyogoku, is the head temple of the Jodo Seizan Fukakusa school, founded more than 1,300 years ago at Emperor Tenji's wish and moved several times before it settled here. Sei Shonagon and Izumi Shikibu were followers, and it's linked to Sakuden, the priest called the founder of rakugo, so performers come to pray to get better at their art. Outside the gate stands a stone signpost from 1882 where people pinned notes about lost children and lost things.

Nearest station Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu)
Cost Free
Time needed 20 min
Best time Daytime

Insider tip

Each October the temple holds a rakugo show in Sakuden's memory (10 October in 2026). Its monthly goshuin follow a series of Izumi Shikibu's poems.

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What's on at Seigan-ji

Upcoming events at Seigan-ji and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.

Festival

Izumi Shikibu Memorial Day at Seishin-in

和泉式部忌

21 Mar Seishin-in, Kawaramachi

Time 11:00 and 14:00 Station Shijo-Kawaramachi, 8 min walk

Memorial rites for the poet Izumi Shikibu at Seishin-in on Shinkyogoku, with noh chant at 11:00, a service at 14:00 and a screen linked to her shown 10:00 to 16:00.

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Exhibition ¥1,000 (junior and senior high school students ¥500)

Hozo-ji Hidden Cultural Properties Opening

宝蔵寺 京都非公開文化財特別公開

20 to 29 Nov Hozo-ji, Kawaramachi

Time 9:00 to 16:00 (reception hours) Station Kyoto Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu) about 7 min walk

Hozo-ji opens its main hall with Ito Jakuchu's paintings of a rooster among bamboo and of a skull, as part of the 62nd Kyoto Hidden Cultural Properties programme.

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Festival

Pumpkin Memorial Service at Kyoto Yada-dera

かぼちゃ供養

23 Dec Kyoto Yada-dera, Kawaramachi

Time From 10:00

Visitors stroke a pumpkin that has been blessed in the main hall to pray against illness, in a winter solstice tradition at the temple on Teramachi.

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Smaller local events nearby

  • Tenjin-san Day at Nishiki Tenmangu Festival

    Sun 25 Oct · Nishiki Tenmangu, Shinkyogoku

    Tenjin-san day observance at Nishiki Tenmangu, the shrine in the Shinkyogoku shopping district.

    Map · Source: Nishiki Tenmangu · 天神さんの日

  • bright green vol.3: a family concert and a Wakakusa Moeka concert Performance

    Sun 25 Oct · Hulic Hall Kyoto, Kawaramachi

    Two concerts at Hulic Hall Kyoto the same day, a family concert from 11:00 open to ages 0 and up, then a Wakakusa Moeka concert at 13:00.

    Part 1 ¥3,500 adult, ¥500 ages 3 to 18, under 3 free; Part 2 ¥6,500 or ¥12,000 VIP; both ¥9,000 · 11:00 and 13:00 · Map · Source: Hulic Hall Kyoto · bright green vol.3 めぐる愛 ~Love Comes Full Circle

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Nearby

Kaneyo Food · right here Kaneyo has grilled eel on Rokkaku-dori, just east of Shinkyogoku, since 1912, in a building from the early Taisho years that lost its third floor to... Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades Shopping · 1 min walk Shinkyogoku was cut through old temple grounds in 1872 and runs from Sanjo to Shijo, with Teramachi parallel one street west. Mishima-tei Food · 2 min walk Mishima-tei has served sukiyaki on the corner of Teramachi and Sanjo since 1873, when its founder came back from learning beef hot pot in Nagasaki. Katsukura Sanjo Food · 2 min walk Katsukura is the Kyoto-born tonkatsu chain, and this is its main store on Sanjo-dori just east of Teramachi, set back down a long entrance passage. Rokuyosha Coffee Cafe · 2 min walk Rokuyosha is two separate coffee rooms on Kawaramachi-dori just south of Sanjo. Smart Coffee Cafe · 3 min walk Smart Coffee, on Teramachi just north of Sanjo, opened in 1932 as Smart Lunch, and it still roasts its own beans the way it did then.

Around Kawaramachi

Downtown Kyoto, between Nishiki Market and the Kamo River

Kawaramachi is downtown Kyoto, the shopping streets round the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing. The Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades run north from Shijo-dori, Nishiki Market runs west from them, and east of Kawaramachi-dori the Takase canal and Pontocho squeeze in before the Kamo River. You'll come here to eat, mostly. Some of the tea, incense and paper shops date from the Edo period.

Kawaramachi has 26 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 5 shops, 4 cafes, 4 restaurants, 3 shrines and temples, 3 landmarks, 2 bars, 2 neighbourhoods, 1 park or garden, 1 market and 1 bathhouse. Read the Kawaramachi guide.

Good to know

What is the address of Seigan-ji?
453 Sakuranocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都府京都市中京区新京極桜之町453（新京極通り六角下る）).
What are the opening hours of Seigan-ji?
Daily 9:00 to 17:00.
How do I get to Seigan-ji?
The nearest station is Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu). Seigan-ji is in Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
How much does Seigan-ji cost?
Nothing. Seigan-ji is free to visit.
How long do you need at Seigan-ji?
Plan for 20 min.
When is the best time to visit Seigan-ji?
Daytime.

Stay near Seigan-ji

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