Today I will introduce Nijo Castle, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Josho-ji Temple, and Genkoan Temple, which are the best places in Kyoto to view the autumn leaves.
１，Nijo Castle
The best time to visit is from mid-November to early December.
5 min. walk from Nijojo-mae Station
Nijo Castle is a Japanese castle located in Nijo Castle-cho, Nijo-dori Horikawa Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto.
It was a castle of the Tokugawa Shoguns during the Edo period (1603-1867) and served as a detached palace of the imperial family in the modern era.
Its official name is Motorikyu Nijo Castle. There were other Nijo Castles built by the Ashikaga, Oda, and Toyotomi clans, but the only one still standing is that of the Tokugawa shoguns.
２，Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
The best time to visit is from mid-November to early December.
5 min. walk from Kitano Hakubai-cho Station on the Keifuku Line
Founded in the first year of the Tenryaku era (947), it is the head shrine of Tenmangu, one of the approximately 12,000 Tenjin shrines and Tenmangu shrines in Japan.
The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician in the Heian period (794-1185), and is now widely worshipped as a god of learning, attracting many students preparing for entrance exams.
The main hall, a national treasure, was built by Toyotomi Hideyori and is called Hachimono-zukuri, a gorgeous Momoyama-style architecture.
On the 25th of every month, a special open-house event is held in the hall of treasures, and the temple grounds are crowded with many stalls.
The temple is also famous for its plum blossoms and autumn leaves.
３，Joushouji
Mid to late November is the best time to visit.
From Shijo-Omiya Station, take the (No. 6) train bound for Genkaku.
Jōshō-ji Temple was a former Buddhist monastery in northeastern Kyoto, Japan, bestowed by Emperor Sutoku in fulfillment of a sacred vow.
It is known as one of the “Six Victory Temples,” including a group of monasteries that enjoyed luxurious imperial patronage from the beginning.
It is sometimes called the “Temple of the Most High” or “Temple of the Mausoleum” because of the syllable in the middle of the temple name.
４，Genkouan Temple
Mid to late November is the best time to visit.
From Shijo-Omiya Station, take the (No. 6) train bound for Genkaku.
The two windows in the main hall, the Window of Enlightenment and the Window of Lostness, are very popular at Genkoan.
The Window of Enlightenment is round and is considered the heart of “Zen and Entsu,” and the circle represents the macrocosm, and it is said that by looking at this window, the world of enlightenment will open.
