Gio-ji Temple
Gio-ji Temple
4.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Western Kyoto
Western Kyoto is home to some of the city's best eccentricities. Kyoto's Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street takes visitors back in time to the Meiji Period, where old homes have been transformed into tea houses and eateries. Pleasure boats drift down the riverbank, under wooden bridges that beckon nature lovers to hiking trails and botanical walks. The area's famously tall bamboo groves, monkey park, and impressive vistas during the Hanami cherry blossom viewing season mean that it is busiest in warmer months, though also gorgeous in the fall, when the mountains and hills along the banks turn multi-colored. Historic and engaging, even the rail cars in Western Kyoto seek to exemplify its traditional nature and scenic beauty. Many people, including natives, come to visit the 1,200 rakan statues at the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, which is still in use as a religious site.
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4.5
418 reviews
Excellent
231
Very good
145
Average
33
Poor
6
Terrible
3
Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan15,193 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Gio-ji is an old temple in Sagano area. The name of temple comes from a lover of Tairano Kiyomori, a ruler in Heian Period. She was later discarded by him, and passed a retired life in this place. The moss in the garden is really beautiful. It is worth visiting.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter_R_Smith
Billund, Denmark130 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
There are so many temples and other sights to see across Kyoto, and choosing the best is not easy. Without doubt the best are reserved for those willing to walk. I recommend that you visit the Japan National Tourism Organisation website at www.jnto.go.jp and download PDF PG-503 – “Kyoto Walks”. We followed two of these recommended walks and they were an excellent way to see the main shrines and temples of major interest.
In Arashiyama we visited the temples of Seiryoji, Tenryuji (a World Heritage site and Gioji. We also visited the Okoshi Sanso Garden
Gioji Temple was recommended in Lonely Planet as a place of interest for its seclusion and tranqility. It is located at the end of a long line of other temples, not very easy to find, and probably not worth the effort if you are on a time constrained vacation. There are better temples and shrines within the area. Very small and compact. May be more impressive if you are alone and can feel the tranquility, but amongst other tourists probably not worth the walk.
Depending upon where you start, I would recommend traveling to Arashiyama on the private Keifuku Railway, which takes you to Arashiyama in the heart of the temples complex. We picked up this line from the end of the Tozai subway line at Uzumasa which connect directly to the Randen-Tenjingawa station for the Keifuku Railway.
A few words of caution. You are expected to remove your shoes before entering the temples – slips on make it much easier. Chairs generally are not provided even for those who are less flexible than most. These may be religious places, but they are also run to make money. Generally on top of the initial admission charge, anything deemed of particular or extra interest attracts an additional charge. The entrance fees plus top up charges can become very significant – these are not low cost places to visit. Clearly as visitors we all want to support the cost of upkeep of these historic monuments – but it does also feel like a money making machine.
In Arashiyama we visited the temples of Seiryoji, Tenryuji (a World Heritage site and Gioji. We also visited the Okoshi Sanso Garden
Gioji Temple was recommended in Lonely Planet as a place of interest for its seclusion and tranqility. It is located at the end of a long line of other temples, not very easy to find, and probably not worth the effort if you are on a time constrained vacation. There are better temples and shrines within the area. Very small and compact. May be more impressive if you are alone and can feel the tranquility, but amongst other tourists probably not worth the walk.
Depending upon where you start, I would recommend traveling to Arashiyama on the private Keifuku Railway, which takes you to Arashiyama in the heart of the temples complex. We picked up this line from the end of the Tozai subway line at Uzumasa which connect directly to the Randen-Tenjingawa station for the Keifuku Railway.
A few words of caution. You are expected to remove your shoes before entering the temples – slips on make it much easier. Chairs generally are not provided even for those who are less flexible than most. These may be religious places, but they are also run to make money. Generally on top of the initial admission charge, anything deemed of particular or extra interest attracts an additional charge. The entrance fees plus top up charges can become very significant – these are not low cost places to visit. Clearly as visitors we all want to support the cost of upkeep of these historic monuments – but it does also feel like a money making machine.
Written 12 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SFBayAreaTrekker
San Francisco Bay Area (CA)563 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
This place may be smaller than most garden, but the harmonious blend of the various species of moss leaves you spellbound. Everything blends so effortlessly and beautiful. The history and story behind this place adds to the spell.
If you plan to visit, make sure this is on your bucket list.
If you plan to visit, make sure this is on your bucket list.
Written 14 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Naserah
Colombo, Sri Lanka61 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
We came to arayashima on a day trip n decided to follow a trail on a map given to us....exiting the bamboo grove (which whilst pretty n all we found rather underwhelming as it was such a short stretch), we by chance came across the sign posts to this temple....as we had the time, we decided to give this temple a shot n decided to go in...(tho it wasn't on our "must-do" list)....
How glad we were that we did! It was tiny beautiful n perfect! Like a little Japanese fairy tale world! The different colored moss all "glowed" n the whole scene was like from an ancient time....very very pretty n tranquil setting...it's perched up a little from the pathway....and might be hard to find but its well worth the effort to go in n be enchanted. We certainly were!
How glad we were that we did! It was tiny beautiful n perfect! Like a little Japanese fairy tale world! The different colored moss all "glowed" n the whole scene was like from an ancient time....very very pretty n tranquil setting...it's perched up a little from the pathway....and might be hard to find but its well worth the effort to go in n be enchanted. We certainly were!
Written 19 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MiaFaithOz
Australia7 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
It took a rather long walk from the Bamboo Grove to reach this temple. The foliage was showed it was the end of autumn with the moss garden being the highlight of this place. I found the entrance fee to be rather expensive for such a small place as it can be completed within five minutes if one does a quick walk. However, for those who are more contemplative and like the zen aspect, this place would be quite ideal being quieter and not invaded by the hordes of tour groups.
Written 22 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie S
London, UK281 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Really beautiful temple, very well maintained and cool place to relax and chill. The gardens are a beautiful place to go and walk and sitting in the temple looking out over the lake is a really nice place to spend a few moments.
Written 29 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
waffler_au
Melbourne, Australia134 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
Japanese gardens are very good at making average plants look beautiful and this is no exception. The temple is small, basically it is one moss garden with a path around it, but coming here it was the first time it ever crossed my mind that moss could look so beautiful. (That said, Jojakoji which is closer to the main Arashiyama tourist area also has a very beautiful moss-slope for anybody who doesn't want to venture out this way and looking for a closer alternative.)
You can get a double pass to Gio-ji's sister temple Daikakuji (famous for its screen door paintings and nightingale floor. It's also much bigger) which saves you about Y300.
You can get a double pass to Gio-ji's sister temple Daikakuji (famous for its screen door paintings and nightingale floor. It's also much bigger) which saves you about Y300.
Written 27 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KeaNor
127 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
We came here, quite by chance, late in the afternoon one of the last days of this year's summer rains. And we were totally stunned once we entered. It was as if one enters a sacred realm of serenity and almost supernatural beauty. The mosses, the trees and plants, the sounds of water...not only from the tiny creeks, but even more so if you take some time to sit down quietly on the left hand side of the tiny temple, and listen. I won't reveal what it is. But take it in. You'll probably come back to it in your mind again and again.
Gio-ji can be a bit tricky to find, since the directions are only given in Japanese: 祇王寺. But do make the extra effort. You will not regret it!
Gio-ji can be a bit tricky to find, since the directions are only given in Japanese: 祇王寺. But do make the extra effort. You will not regret it!
Written 12 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
siulin2018
Singapore, Singapore44 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
I loved this temple and the gardens. The moss was just amazing and so beautiful. As it was lightly snowing, it added to the atmosphere. The story around Gio and her family was also beautiful, as were the tombstones. I would recommend a visit to Gio-ji any time!
Written 2 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ash_skywalker10
Sydney, Australia305 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
This temple which is like a 10 minute drive from Arashiyama station, is like ripped out of a Miyazaki film. It's small, but everywhere there's green moss is so enchanting. After visiting temple after temple, this stands out by far by being unique
Written 21 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would Like to visit Gio -Ji in mid February, can someone advise if it is open. We understand that Saiho-ji is closed at this time, so would like to make sure this and the Bamboo Forest is open?
Written 12 January 2020
How do I book a ticket for Gio Ji visit visit in October?
Written 19 August 2017
You don't need to book tickets in advance to come here, you just show up and pay in person at the entrance gate.
Written 20 August 2017
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