Temple

Shokoku-ji

Imperial Palace, Kyoto

Address
Imadegawa-dori Karasuma Higashi-iru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 〒602-0898 京都市上京区今出川通烏丸東入

Source: shokoku-ji.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.

The Dharma Hall of Shokoku-ji at the end of a paved path lined with pines
Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Shokoku-ji heads its own branch of Rinzai Zen, which also takes in Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, and the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had it built, finished in 1392. Its Dharma Hall, rebuilt in 1605, is the oldest lecture hall of its kind in Japan. On the ceiling is Kano Mitsunobu's dragon, about 9 m across, known as the crying dragon.

Nearest station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line)
Cost ¥
Time needed 1 hour
Best time During the autumn opening

Insider tip

The halls open only in spring and autumn (in 2026, 25 March to 2 June and 26 September to 15 December), and entry is ¥1,000. The ticket covers the Dharma Hall, the abbot's quarters and the Founder's Hall. The Jotenkaku Museum on the grounds needs its own ticket.

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What's on at Shokoku-ji

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

Exhibition On now ¥1,000

Shokoku-ji Autumn Special Opening

相国寺 秋の特別拝観

26 Sept to 15 Dec Shokoku-ji, Imperial Palace

Time 10:00 to 16:00 Station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line)

Shokoku-ji opens its Hatto, the oldest surviving Dharma hall in Japan, along with the abbot's quarters and the founder's hall. Look up at the 'crying dragon' Kano Mitsunobu painted on the Hatto ceiling. It's closed for services from 18 to 21 Oct.

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The Dharma Hall of Shokoku-ji at the end of a paved path lined with pines 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Exhibition On now ¥1,000

Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu

「円山応挙と伊藤若冲」

17 Oct to 20 Jun Shokoku-ji Jotenkaku Museum, Imperial Palace

Time 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) Station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), exit 3, 8 min walk

Okyo's Peony and Peacock (first half of the autumn period) and his Great Waterfall, over 3.6 m tall (second half), hang alongside all 50 of Jakuchu's ink panels from the great study room of Kinkaku-ji, where he shows what he could do without colour. It's closed for New Year from 27 Dec to 8 Jan.

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The paved path through a green garden to the entrance of the Jotenkaku Museum at Shokoku-ji 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Exhibition

Shokoku-ji Spring Special Opening

春の特別拝観（相国寺）

25 Mar to 2 Jun (dates to be confirmed) Shokoku-ji, Imperial Palace

Time 10:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00) Station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), 8 min walk

The Hatto hall opens with Kano Mitsunobu's crying dragon painted on its ceiling, along with the abbot's quarters and the founder's hall.

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The Dharma Hall of Shokoku-ji at the end of a paved path lined with pines 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Illumination

Doshisha Imadegawa Campus Christmas Tree Lighting

同志社大学 今出川校地 クリスマス・イルミネーション点灯式

20 Nov to 25 Dec Doshisha University Imadegawa Campus, Sanctus Court, Imperial Palace

Time Ceremony Nov 20 from 17:15 (about 30 minutes). Lit 17:00 to 22:00 daily Station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line)

Lighting ceremony and evening illumination of the Himalayan cedar at Sanctus Court, open to the public.

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The red brick 1886 chapel on the Doshisha University Imadegawa campus, with its steep roof and arched windows 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Festival

151st Doshisha EVE

第151回同志社EVE

26 to 28 Nov Doshisha University Imadegawa and Muromachi campuses, Imperial Palace

Doshisha University's student-run festival marking the founding anniversary runs with stage programmes, tent stalls and classroom stalls at the Imadegawa campus, with an eve-of-festival day on 26 November.

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Smaller local events nearby

  • Yuima-kai Zazen at Shokoku-ji Festival

    Sun 25 Oct, Sun 8 Nov, Sun 22 Nov, Sun 13 Dec · Shokoku-ji, Imperial Palace

    Zazen from 9:00 to 10:30 and a dharma talk to 11:00 on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, with sign-in at the temple office from 8:30 and a donation of ¥100 or more. It's closed in August and on a few other Sundays.

    Donation of ¥100 or more · Map · Source: Shokoku-ji · 相国寺坐禅会（維摩会）

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Nearby

Jotenkaku Museum Museum · 1 min walk Shokoku-ji opened this museum in 1984 for the treasures of its own temples, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, five National Treasures and 145 Important... Kyogashi Shiryokan Museum · 3 min walk Tawaraya Yoshitomi, a Kyoto confectioner since 1755, opened this small museum in 1978 to tell the story of Kyoto sweets. Doshisha University Imadegawa Campus Landmark · 4 min walk Doshisha grew from the English school Niijima Jo opened in 1875, and its campus across Imadegawa-dori from the palace keeps a row of Meiji-era... Kamigoryo Shrine Shrine · 5 min walk Kamigoryo Shrine traces its start to 794, when rites were held for the spirit of Emperor Sudo, and seven more spirits were added later. Hatakaku Food · 6 min walk Hatakaku has served botan nabe, wild boar hotpot, since 1918. Demachi Masugata Shopping Street Shopping · 9 min walk Demachi Masugata is the covered arcade on Masugata-dori between Kawaramachi and Teramachi, across the river from Demachiyanagi.

Around Imperial Palace

Free palace walks, a park that never shuts, and the court's old shops

Kyoto Gyoen, a park 1.3 km long in central Kyoto, never closes. The Kyoto Imperial Palace sits inside it, and you can walk round it for free without booking. Around the edges you'll find Shokoku-ji (head of the Zen branch that takes in Kinkaku-ji), the house site where The Tale of Genji was written, and shops that once supplied the court.

Imperial Palace has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 6 shrines and temples, 5 landmarks, 3 museums, 2 cafes, 2 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 parks and gardens and 1 bar. Read the Imperial Palace guide.

Good to know

What is the address of Shokoku-ji?
Imadegawa-dori Karasuma Higashi-iru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市上京区今出川通烏丸東入).
How do I get to Shokoku-ji?
The nearest station is Imadegawa (Karasuma Line). Shokoku-ji is in Imperial Palace, Kyoto.
How much does Shokoku-ji cost?
Shokoku-ji is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
How long do you need at Shokoku-ji?
Plan for 1 hour.
When is the best time to visit Shokoku-ji?
During the autumn opening.

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