Shosei-en Garden
Kyoto Station, Kyoto
1 Nov to 29 Feb
- Daily
- 9:00 to 16:00
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 9:00 to 17:00
Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Open every day of the year.
Source: higashihonganji.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Higashi Hongan-ji's own pond garden, a few blocks east of the temple. It began in 1653 as a retirement villa for the temple's 13th head, the layout is credited to Ishikawa Jozan, and it's been a national Place of Scenic Beauty since 1936. You'll also hear it called Kikoku-tei, after the trifoliate orange hedges planted round it.
More photos of Shosei-en Garden
Insider tip
Adults are asked for a donation of ¥700 or more toward upkeep. You walk the garden only. The buildings aren't open on a normal visit. Nearly 50 cherry trees flower from late February (the early Shuzenji kanzakura) to early April, and the maples turn in November and December. It's 10 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station.
What's on near Shosei-en Garden
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Shosei-en Garden, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS at Higashi Honganji and Shosei-en
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS 東本願寺・渉成園
Time 18:00 to 22:00 (Higashi Honganji last entry 21:00) Station Gojo (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk
NAKED lights Higashi Honganji and its detached garden Shosei-en for an evening walk through five scenes. Adult tickets are ¥2,100 Monday to Thursday and ¥2,300 Friday to Sunday and on holidays (¥200 less in advance), and from 6 to 8 Nov and on 25 Nov only Shosei-en is open.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Year-end Dust Cleaning at Higashi Honganji
お煤払い（東本願寺）
Time From 9:00 Station Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line), 7 min walk
Followers from all over Japan line up across the tatami of the Founder's and Amida halls, beat it with split bamboo and fan the dust out with paper fans about 2 m across. Then the head of the temple traces the character for 'long life' on a paper screen with a bamboo pole.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival
京都モダン建築祭
Time Passport days 31 Oct and 1 Nov 10:00 to 19:00, 7 and 8 Nov 10:00 to 17:00 (hours vary by building) Station Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line)
In its fifth year about 150 modern buildings take part, and on 31 Oct and 1 Nov and on 7 and 8 Nov a passport lets you walk into 61 that are usually closed or hard to visit, from houses, banks, schools and churches to a National Treasure. From 26 Oct a half pass is ¥3,000 and a full pass ¥5,000, sold online or for cash at the Kyoto General Tourist Information Center in Kyoto Station.
Nearby
Around Kyoto Station
Free temples and late ramen a few minutes from the platforms
Most visitors only see Kyoto Station on the way in or out, which is a shame. Higashi Hongan-ji is 7 minutes north on foot and free, To-ji's pagoda is 15 minutes south, and at the railway museum to the west a working steam engine will pull you along. After dark, 15,000 LEDs light the station's 171-step staircase.
Kyoto Station has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 4 shrines and temples, 4 museums, 3 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 cafes, 2 parks and gardens, 2 bathhouses, 1 bar, 1 landmark, 1 viewpoint and 1 market. Read the Kyoto Station guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Shosei-en Garden?
- Higashi-Tamamizu-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市下京区下珠数屋町通間之町東入東玉水町).
- What are the opening hours of Shosei-en Garden?
- 1 Nov to 29 Feb: Daily 9:00 to 16:00. Rest of the year: Daily 9:00 to 17:00. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Open every day of the year.
- How do I get to Shosei-en Garden?
- The nearest station is Gojo (Karasuma Line). Shosei-en Garden is in Kyoto Station, Kyoto.
- How much does Shosei-en Garden cost?
- Shosei-en Garden is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Shosei-en Garden?
- Plan for 45 min.
- When is the best time to visit Shosei-en Garden?
- Cherry season and November.
Stay near Shosei-en Garden
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