Daitoku-ji Obai-in: Autumn Special Opening

Before you go

Oubai-in is a subtemple (tatchu) of Daitoku-ji, head of the Rinzai Daitoku-ji school. It was founded by Oda Nobunaga for the memorial of his father Nobuhide, later expanded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and renamed Oubai-in in 1589. This autumn opening opens the garden, tea house and kuri that are normally closed.

• 直中庭: a moss-covered kare-sansui garden said to have been designed by Sen no Rikyu at 66, with a gourd-shaped pond laid out at Hideyoshi's wish.
• The hojo garden 破頭庭, and the front garden covered in moss and maples.
• The kuri (Important Cultural Property), said to be the oldest surviving kuri at a Zen temple, plus reproductions of Unkoku Togan's wall paintings in the main hall.

Getting there

Take a city bus to the Daitoku-ji stop and walk about 5 minutes. The address is 83-1 Daitokuji Murasakino, Kita-ku. You can also take the Karasuma subway to Kitaoji and transfer to a city bus.

Booking

No reservation is needed; buy tickets at the gate on the day. Adults ¥1,000, junior- and high-school students ¥500, children of elementary-school age and under free with a guardian. Cash only. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance.

The temple began in Eiroku 5 (1562), when the 28-year-old Nobunaga built the hermitage Oubai-an for his father's memorial. After Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji, Hideyoshi expanded it and renamed it Oubai-in in 1589. Its garden, 直中庭, is said to have been designed by Sen no Rikyu at the age of 66, its gourd-shaped pond laid out at Hideyoshi's wish.