Sennyu-ji
Fushimi, Kyoto
1 Mar to 30 Nov
- Daily
- 9:00 to 17:00
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 9:00 to 16:30
Hours run to the gate closing, with last entry 30 minutes earlier. The treasure hall is closed on the fourth Monday of each month.
Source: mitera.org, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Sennyu-ji is known as Mitera, the imperial family's temple. Emperor Shijo's funeral was held here in 1242, as were those of the Edo-period emperors from Go-Yozei to Komei, and Shijo and the emperors from Go-Mizunoo to Ninko lie in the Tsukinowa mausoleum in its grounds. The Buddha hall, rebuilt in 1668 by shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, has a cloud dragon painted on its ceiling by Kano Tanyu.
Insider tip
Entry is ¥500, and the imperial rooms (Gozasho) with their garden are another ¥500. That viewing can be cancelled without notice for imperial visits or services. The Yokihi Kannon, a statue brought from Song China in 1230, has its own hall on the left inside the gate. No photos inside the buildings.
What's on near Sennyu-ji
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Sennyu-ji, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Nehan-e and Sanmon Opening at Tofuku-ji
涅槃会・国宝三門と龍吟庵特別公開（東福寺）
Time 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:30) Station Tofukuji (JR Nara Line), about 14 min walk
For the Buddha's death anniversary the main hall hangs Mincho's huge Nirvana painting, about 12 m by 6.5 m, with a life-size cat in it, free to see. The National Treasure Sanmon gate and the Ryogin-an subtemple open the same three days for ¥1,000 each.
Kimon Berlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 Bellflower Viewing at Tentoku-in
桔梗を愛でる特別拝観（天得院）
Time 9:00 to 16:00 (gate closes 16:30) Station Tofukuji (JR Nara Line, Keihan)
This Tofuku-ji subtemple opens while Chinese bellflowers flower in its Momoyama-period dry garden, purple and white against cedar moss, and you can frame them through the cusped window. Matcha and a sweet are ¥1,000 extra.
Kimon Berlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kamamoto Momiji Matsuri Pottery Fair
第32回 東福寺～泉涌寺 窯元もみじまつり（窯元大陶器市）
Time 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29 Nov, 10:00 to 16:30 Station Sennyuji-michi bus stop (City Bus 202, 207, 208), 5 min walk
The Kiyomizu-ware kilns between Tofuku-ji and Sennyu-ji sell work by potters and artists at 30 to 70 percent below shop prices over five autumn days, rain or shine. There's a stamp rally and sake tasting, and ¥10,000 vouchers buy ¥11,000 worth.
Nearby
Around Fushimi
Torii tunnels at dawn, then sake by the old castle moat
Fushimi is two trips in one. In the north, about 10,000 torii line the paths up Mount Inari behind Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the grounds never close, so you can walk them at dawn. Five stops south on the Keihan line, about 20 breweries still make sake in the old river port, and you can taste most of them in one alley.
Fushimi has 21 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 8 shrines and temples, 4 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 landmarks, 1 bar, 1 neighbourhood, 1 cafe, 1 museum and 1 bathhouse. Read the Fushimi guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Sennyu-ji?
- 27 Sennyuji Yamanouchi-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市東山区泉涌寺山内町27).
- What are the opening hours of Sennyu-ji?
- 1 Mar to 30 Nov: Daily 9:00 to 17:00. Rest of the year: Daily 9:00 to 16:30. Hours run to the gate closing, with last entry 30 minutes earlier. The treasure hall is closed on the fourth Monday of each month.
- How do I get to Sennyu-ji?
- The nearest station is Sennyuji-michi bus stop (City Bus 202, 207, 208). Sennyu-ji is in Fushimi, Kyoto.
- How much does Sennyu-ji cost?
- Sennyu-ji is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Sennyu-ji?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Sennyu-ji?
- Weekday mornings.
Stay near Sennyu-ji
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