Myokakuji Temple

Relocated to this part of Kyoto in the late 1500s on the orders of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Myokakuji was once a prominent temple frequented by aristocrats and samurai lords. When Hideyoshi's Jurakudai palace was dismantled, its grand entrance gate was transferred here and still serves as the temple's main gateway today. The simple garden is open to visitors and becomes particularly lively in autumn when maples turn. You can sit with tea and traditional sweets while taking in the colors. The garden is beautiful in any season, but autumn brings the best reason to linger.