Gansenji Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple in Kamo-cho, Kizugawa City, the southernmost part of Kyoto Prefecture. It’s located in the tea-producing region of Kyoto. The temple was founded in 729. The name "Gansenji" translates literally to "Rock Boat Temple," and near the entrance of the temple is a boat-shaped rock, where legend has it that monks used it for sacred cleansing rituals. In the temple precincts, the Three-storied Pagoda, the Important Cultural Property, stands surrounded by nature. It looks dignified and mystic, and its wooden demon carvings are very interesting. The temple is famous for its hydrangeas that are beautiful around June. After the hydrangeas, water lilies and crape myrtle blossoms follow, and fall foliage is impressive as well. In the cold season, you can see vivid camellia flowers and pretty plum blossoms, and in the spring, cherry blossoms are amazing. The temple is also adorned by a variety of other flowers, and is truly a sight to see in any of the four seasons. Gansenji Temple’s wooden statue of Seated Amida Nyorai is about three meters tall, and the gentle, sublime expression brings comfort to viewers. You’ll be overwhelmed as you imagine the original appearance from the whole statue’s golden glow and the faint vermilion paint remaining on the clothes even after a thousand years. The serene aura of the enlightened Amida Nyorai is captivating, and there is another awesome statue, Fugen (Samantabhadra) Bodhisattva riding a white elephant. This statue was restored in December 2024 for the first time in 113 years. As a side note, paths connecting Gansenji Temple and Joruriji Temple called Sekibutsu no Michi (paths with stone Buddhas) are a great place for hiking through history where you can meet many stone Buddhas.
- Tel
- 0774-76-3390
- Address
- 43 Iwafune Kaminomon, Kamo-cho, Kizugawa City, Kyoto
- Access
- -From Kamo Station (JR Kansai Line, Yamatoji Line), take Kizugawa City Community Bus towards Kamoyamanoie for about 16 minutes, and get off at Gansen-ji Temple.
-From JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station, take Nara Kotsu Bus (bound for Shimo-sagawa/Hirooka) for about 18 minutes, get off at Gansenjiguchi, and walk for about 25 minutes. - Business Hours
- March - November: 8:30am - 5:00pm (last admission: 4:45pm)
December - February: 9:00am - 4:00pm (last admission: 3:45pm)
Open year-round - Parking
- No available
Please use a nearby parking lot. (Fee required)
