What other travelers are saying about Koryuji Temple
It was my first temple visit in Kyoto, Japan I'll never forget this place. I was in tears when I saw the giant Buddha wood statue, what an amazing experience very spiritual and moving.
Admission costs ¥800 for adults, ¥400 for junior high and high school students, and reduced rates for younger children. This fee includes access to all temple areas and the Treasure Hall.
Most visitors spend 60 to 90 minutes exploring the temple grounds, main hall, lecture hall, octagonal Keigu-do Hall, and viewing the Treasure Hall collection. The temple is less crowded than major Kyoto attractions, allowing for unhurried viewing.
Koryuji Temple is located near the Toei Uzumasa Eigamura film studio in the Uzumasa district. The Arashiyama area, known for its bamboo groves and temples, is accessible via the same Keifuku Randen train line. These sites can easily be visited in a single day trip.
The temple grounds are relatively flat, though traditional Japanese temple architecture includes steps at building entrances. Visitors with mobility concerns should contact the temple in advance to inquire about specific accessibility arrangements for the Treasure Hall and main buildings.
This is a beautiful temple made out of wood. It's an old temple and the wood used has stood the test of time giving it a lovely look with the grain exposed. There are several wooden structures here. The gate itself is quite imposing and beautiful. There's also a small fountain here with a dragon and a large bell.
Beautiful place peaceful one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in the country, dating back to the 7th century. The temple is renowned for its stunning architecture, intricate artwork, and deep spiritual significance.
Probably the best "treasure hall" in all of Kyoto. A dazzling room, although under-lit. And for reasons unknown, the Kodo (main hall) also with very important statues is closed off and totally dark...hence u can't see anything there. So strange.
I visited a temple to see the famous Miroku Bosatsu statue. As always in temples, photos were not allowed - no surprise. But surprisingly, viewing the statue with binocular was not allowed. Since I am short-sighted, I am used to carry a pair of binoculars with me. At no other buddhist temple in Japan this posed any problems. But here once I took out the binoculars, a guard ran by shouting "no scope". It was not a telescope, buddy, it was a pair of binoculars :). There was no sign that one could not use binoculars, so I could not be sure he was not making it all up just to be nasty to a foreigner. I found it very disturbing and discriminating against people with poor eyesight, and devoid of common sense. They do allow you to watch Bosatsu through the eyeglasses, so why not binoculars? I can imagine they forbid people to take pictures, so that they can make some money selling postcards, but binoculars? Give me a break. There were other issues in this temple, information was very poor, dates were not indicated on all but a few statues, and English translations were plainly wrong, referring to Bodhisattvas as Buddhas. Overall it's a pity. This temple owns a beautiful statue, a masterpiece, but they put some ill-educated guards to watch it (or were they monks?), and they don't allow you to see it clearly. Needless to say, I did not give them any extra money nor bought a postcard.
