Shunko-in
Kinkakuji, Kyoto
Source: shunkoin.com, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Shunko-in is a Myoshin-ji subtemple founded in 1590 by Horio Yoshiharu, later the first lord of Matsue. It keeps the Nanbanji bell, an Important Cultural Property, and a front garden laid out to stand for the Ise shrines and Ise Bay. The temple and garden aren't open for ordinary visits, so you come here for Zen sessions in English with the priest Takafumi Zenryu Kawakami.
Insider tip
Everything is by reservation, through links on the temple's website. The Kissako session is two hours of tea, seated meditation and conversation in English, and you don't need any meditation experience. It costs ¥20,000 a person before tax. The temple also runs private sessions and overnight stays.
Tickets and tours
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What's on near Shunko-in
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Shunko-in, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Rinsho-in Hidden Cultural Properties Opening
麟祥院 京都非公開文化財特別公開
Time 9:00 to 16:00 (reception hours; from 13:00 on 8 Nov) Station Myoshinji-kita-mon bus stop, 5 min walk; Myoshinji Station (Keifuku Kitano Line) 10 min
A Myoshin-ji sub-temple opens its hojo hall, mausoleum and a statue of Kasuga no Tsubone by Kobori Enshu in the 62nd Kyoto Hidden Cultural Properties programme. Reception opens at 13:00 on 8 Nov.
Kentaro Ohno, CC BY 2.0 Myoshin-ji Autumn Special Experience (Akechi Bath, Zazen, Matcha)
妙心寺 令和8年秋の特別体験
Time Start 9:00 on 24 Oct, 8 Nov and 23 Nov; start 13:00 on 25 Oct, 31 Oct, 1 Nov, 15 Nov, 21 Nov, 22 Nov, 28 Nov and 29 Nov. Meet at the Ohojo. Station Myoshin-ji (Randen) or Hanazono (JR Sagano Line), short walk
A guided visit to the Akechi Bath, normally closed and linked to Akechi Mitsuhide, followed by zazen in the Ohojo (chairs provided) and matcha. It runs on set dates only, with up to 15 people per session, and booking is through the temple's form.
Kentaro Ohno, CC BY 2.0 Sal Tree Flower Viewing at Torin-in
沙羅の花を愛でる会（東林院）
Time 9:30 to 15:00 (last entry 14:30) Station Hanazono (JR Sagano Line), 8 min walk
This Myoshin-ji subtemple opens while the sal trees in front of its hall are in white flower. You sit with matcha and a sweet for ¥1,600, or add a vegetarian temple meal for ¥6,300, no booking needed.
Kentaro Ohno, CC BY 2.0 Bonto Lantern Evenings at Torin-in
梵燈のあかりに親しむ会
Time 18:00 to 20:30 (last entry 20:00) Station Bus Myoshinji-mae, 5 min walk
Candles are lit in hand-made roof-tile lamps around the Horai garden after dark, with Zen phrases shown in the light. Rain cancels it. Cost is the temple entry fee.
Kentaro Ohno, CC BY 2.0 New Year red bean porridge gathering at Torin-in
小豆粥で初春を祝う会（東林院）
Time 11:00-15:00
Meal of red bean porridge and shojin dishes with plum tea ceremony and a special opening of the Hiryu garden, to ward off evil at Koshogatsu.
Kentaro Ohno, CC BY 2.0 Smaller local events nearby
Rinsho-in Autumn Special Opening Exhibition
3 Nov to 6 Dec · Rinsho-in, Myoshin-ji
A special opening of Rinsho-in, a short walk from Myoshin-ji's north gate, with the hojo, the mausoleum and a wooden statue of Kasuga no Tsubone by Kobori Enshu.
Map · Source: Kyoto Heritage Preservation Association · 麟祥院
Zendo-kai early-morning zazen and talk at Myoshin-ji Performance
Sun 8 Nov, Tue 8 Dec, Fri 8 Jan · Daihojo, Myoshin-ji (Shinken in winter), Kinkakuji
Myoshin-ji holds an early-morning zazen session followed by a talk and tea on the 8th of each month, open to anyone with no reservation.
¥500 · Map · Source: Myoshin-ji · 妙心寺禅道会
Nearby
Around Kinkakuji
Three World Heritage temples on one road under Mount Kinugasa
Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji and Ninna-ji all sit on Kinukake-no-Michi, a road that climbs about 2.5 km from Omuro-Ninnaji Station up to the Golden Pavilion. Start at Ryoan-ji, which opens at 8:00 from March to November, an hour before Kinkaku-ji. South of the road, Myoshin-ji's grounds don't close at all, and they hold more than 40 subtemples.
Kinkakuji has 14 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 9 shrines and temples, 2 museums, 1 cafe, 1 restaurant and 1 viewpoint. Read the Kinkakuji guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Shunko-in?
- 42 Hanazono Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市右京区花園妙心寺町42).
- How do I get to Shunko-in?
- The nearest station is Myoshinji Kitamon-mae bus stop (City Bus 10, 26). Shunko-in is in Kinkakuji, Kyoto.
- How much does Shunko-in cost?
- Shunko-in is at the higher end, marked ¥¥¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Shunko-in?
- Plan for 2 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Shunko-in?
- By reservation.
Stay near Shunko-in
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