Jōjūji Temple　浄住寺

The path from the main gate to the main hall of Jōjūji Temple is lined with Japanese maples and two rare species of bamboo: shihōchiku (square bamboo) and kikkōchiku (tortoiseshell bamboo). The stalks of shihōchiku are thin and squared, and their tender shoots are a popular addition to autumnal dishes. Conversely, the stalks of kikkōchiku bamboo are thick and round, with bulges that protrude outward between diagonally alternating sections, like a tortoise shell.

Two buildings stand on the temple grounds: the main hall and the abbot’s quarters. The main hall is modeled after Chinese temples of the Ming period (1368–1644), with a floor made of packed earth. Unlike temples in the Rinzai and Sōtō sects, Ōbaku monks enter with their footwear on when chanting before the principal image. Toward the back of the main hall are three smaller halls arranged in a straight line: the ihaidō, kaisandō, and jutō. These hold the remains of the temple’s patrons, the Hamuro family, and Tetsugyū (1628–1700), the temple’s founder. The abbot’s quarters, donated by the Date family, are connected to the temple by a covered walkway. The building was originally a daimyo’s residence. It has uguisu-bari (“nightingale floors”) in the hallways that squeak to give away the presence of possible assassins and a hole in the wall of the tokonoma alcove that the daimyo could use to make a quick escape.

The abbot’s quarters, which are also used as a meditation space for visitors, face a temple garden with a configuration that is unique to the Ōbaku sect. Although rock gardens are a common feature in Zen temples, Ōbaku gardens usually include a water feature, such as a pond.

[Adress]
 9 Yamada-Hiraki-Cho, Nishikyo-Ku, Kyoto

[Access]
 10-minute walk from Kamikatsura Station on the Hankyu Railway
 5-minute walk from Kyoto Bus Stop Kokedera-Suzumushidera