Temple

Jingo-ji

Takao, Kyoto

Address
5 Umegahata Takao-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 〒616-8292 京都市右京区梅ヶ畑高雄町5番地
Hours
Daily
9:00 to 16:00

Source: jingoji.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.

The Romon gate of Jingo-ji in the Takao hills, with red and orange maples beside it in autumn
Photo: Nankou Oronain / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Jingo-ji is a Shingon temple in the Takao hills north-west of the city. Kukai, who brought Shingon to Japan, was its abbot for 14 years from 809, and the temple took its present name when it was handed to him in 824. From the lookout you can throw small clay discs called kawarake into the valley to get rid of bad luck, and it's a popular spot for autumn leaves.

Nearest station Takao bus stop (JR Bus, City Bus 8)
Cost ¥
Time needed 1-2 hours
Best time November
Autumn colour

Insider tip

Entry is ¥1,000. JR Bus from Kyoto Station takes about 50 minutes to the Takao stop (City Bus 8 from Shijo-Karasuma about 45), then it's a 20-minute walk. Kozan-ji is on the same bus routes, so it's easy to do both.

What the guides say about Jingo-ji

At Jingo-ji (¥1,000), where Kukai was abbot from 809, you throw small clay discs called kawarake off the lookout to get rid of bad luck. It's a 20-minute walk from the Takao stop. Kozan-ji, at the Toganoo stop, is the temple of the Choju-giga, the scrolls of rabbits, monkeys and frogs at play like people, and its grounds are free except in autumn (¥500). JR Bus from Kyoto Station takes about 50 minutes to Takao and 55 to Toganoo. It's all inside the city's flat-fare zone, so the ¥1,100 subway and bus one-day pass covers it.

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What's on at Jingo-ji

Upcoming events at Jingo-ji, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.

Exhibition

Jingo-ji Treasure Airing

神護寺 虫払い行事 寺宝の特別公開

1 to 5 May (dates to be confirmed) Jingo-ji, Takao

Time 9:00 to 16:00 Station Takao bus stop (JR Bus), 20 min walk

Once a year in fresh-green season the temple airs its treasures, including the National Treasure portrait long said to be Minamoto no Yoritomo, and opens the stone garden of its study hall.

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The Romon gate of Jingo-ji in the Takao hills, with red and orange maples beside it in autumn Nankou Oronain, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Nearby

Kozan-ji Temple · 12 min walk Kozan-ji is the temple of the Choju-giga, the Heian and Kamakura scrolls of rabbits, monkeys and frogs at play like people. Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple · 2.7 km away About 1,200 stone rakan crowd the hillside at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, at the top end of the Saga-Toriimoto road, each with its own expression. Ayu Chaya Hiranoya Cafe · 3.0 km away Hiranoya has stood at the foot of Atago Shrine's first torii for about 400 years, dealing in sweetfish from the Hozu River and serving tea to... Daikaku-ji Temple · 3.0 km away Emperor Saga built a detached palace here in the early 800s, and it became a temple in 876, headed by emperors and imperial princes until the start... Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple · 3.1 km away Adashino was a burial ground from the Heian period on, and in the middle of the Meiji era local people gathered up the stone markers scattered across... Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street Neighbourhood · 3.1 km away Saga-Toriimoto grew up as both the gateway town for pilgrims heading to Atago Shrine and a farming village, and the road still shows both.

Good to know

What is the address of Jingo-ji?
5 Umegahata Takao-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市右京区梅ヶ畑高雄町5番地).
What are the opening hours of Jingo-ji?
Daily 9:00 to 16:00.
How do I get to Jingo-ji?
The nearest station is Takao bus stop (JR Bus, City Bus 8). Jingo-ji is in Takao, Kyoto.
How much does Jingo-ji cost?
Jingo-ji is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
How long do you need at Jingo-ji?
Plan for 1-2 hours.
When is the best time to visit Jingo-ji?
November.

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