Kurodani Konkai Komyo Ji

Konkaikomyo-ji Temple, better known as Kurodani, is a superb and rarely visited (by tourists) temple on Yoshida-yama Hill, a short walk from the Path of Philosophy in Northern Higashiyama.

[Kurodani Temple or Konkai Komyo-ji Temple in Northern Higashiyama — image © Damien Douxchamps]

If you look west from the Path of Philosophy or the viewpoint at Ginkaku-ji Temple, you will see a hill rising just to your west. This is Yoshida-yama Hill and it’s home to some truly superb temples and shrines. And, best of all, few tourists visit this place because it’s off the main Northern Higashiyama tourist route.

The southernmost temple on this hill, just a short walk from Marutamachi-dori Street is Konkaikomyo-ji Temple. That’s a real mouthful to say, and luckily, almost everyone in Kyoto just calls this temple Kurodani, or, in Kyoto dialect, Kurodani-san (with the honorific at the end, as if it were a person).

The best way to reach Kurodani is to take the narrow alley from Marutamachi-dori, about 250 meters west of Shirakawa-dori. The alley is just on the west side of Okazaki-jinja Shrine, which in turn is next to Hotel Heian-no-Mori. Walk up the alley and you’ll soon come out at the bottom of the steps leading to the temple graveyard and pagoda. You’ll want to explore these, but first, head to your left and walk up the gentle incline to the wide area in front of the main hall. You can enter the main hall free of charge. During the fall (usually all of November and fist week of December), the temple opens its back garden, which you must pay ¥600 to enter. Usually, we’re happy to just sit quietly for a moment in the main hall and soak up the atmosphere.

Then, walk back to the graveyard and climb the steps to the pagoda at the top. The view over Kyoto is great from here. You can then navigate some narrow lanes going north from the pagoda, past lovely little Saiun-in Subtemple to come out behind the main hall of the superb Shinyo-do Temple.

English address:
121 Kurodani-cho, Sakyo-ku

Japanese address:
左京区黒谷町121

Opening hours:
9am-4pm

Admission:
free, admission charged during special garden opening

Nearest Transport:
5min walk from Okazaki Michi Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus 100 from Kyoto Station

Telephone: 075-771-2204

Website: Official Website (English)

Where Is This Place Located?

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Near To Here:
Kurodani Temple is located in Kyoto’s Northern Higashiyama district. See our complete list of things to do in Northern Higashiyama, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

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