Nanzenji and autumn leaves

The best time to see the autumn leaves of Nanzen-ji Temple will be introduced on this page. In mid-November, I took a stroll around Suirokaku and Tenjuan from Sanmon gate of Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto.
We will report on the best time and the best place to see the autumn leaves of Sanmon gate, Suirokaku, and Tenjuan.

A picture frame of autumn leaves seen through Sanmon gate of Nanzenji!

Sanmon gate in Nanzenji temple

Sanmon gate in Nanzenji temple

Tourists gather from all over the world aiming for Kyoto, which is the best time to see the fall foliage.
The precincts of Nanzenji in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto are very large (about 45,000 tsubo).

In mid-November 2018, we strolled around the Nanzenji area, Sanmon gate, Suirokaku, and Tenjuan, which is said to be the royal road course of autumn leaves in the ancient city of Kyoto, which is wrapped in the colors of a tasteful season.

!n mid-November, the autumn season in Kyoto, the smell of winter was felt in the morning and evening, and the air was clear.

The Nanzenji area in Kyoto in autumn has moved from green to yellow, red, and crimson trees, and the beauty of the autumn leaves has been praised since the Heian period.

The three gates of Nanzen-ji Temple, famous for the “wonderful scenery” of Ishikawa Goemon Also called “Tenka Ryumon”, the remaining two gates of the three main gates are Chion-in (Kyoto) and Kuonji (Yamanashi).

Nanzen-ji Temple, built in the Edo period, is an important cultural property building. It is said that the lower layer is Tenka Ryumon and the upper layer is Gojoro.

During the best time to see the autumn leaves of Nanzenji, the collaboration between the profound Nanzenji “Sanmon”, one of Japan's three major gates, and autumn leaves is also excellent, and you can feel the luxury of being in Kyoto in autumn.

When you see the scenery like a picture frame through “Sanmon”, the morning glory of Kyoto finally arrives, and the red leaves of Nanzenji change from red to soft red.

When is the best time to see the Sanmon gate in Nanzenji?

Autumn leaves in Nanzenji temple

During the best time to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto, the Nanzen-ji area is colored by about 300 maples, and the majestic wooden buildings shine red.

The best time to see the autumn leaves of Sanmon in Nanzenji is the middle to late November, when it begins to color, and there are many years when the leaves fall in early December.
When it is the best time to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto, the more beautiful the autumn leaves are, the more crowded it is.

Of course, depending on whether you want to enjoy the pale shades of the green colors of trees and the first autumn leaves, or the melancholy of the moss and scattered autumn leaves, the best time to see them may vary. . .

Three colored leaves of Sanzen-ji Temple

Near Sanmon gateof Nanzenji, the moss under the trees was scattered with autumn leaves and the gradation of green, yellow and red was amazing.

How is Nanzenji's Sanmon gate crowded?

朝日を浴びる南禅寺の三門の紅葉

Sanmon gate with autumn leaves

まだ朝日が山に隠れている早朝に訪れた南禅寺の三門は、観光客も少なく、混雑もなく、無音が保たれていました。11月20日も過ぎると、紅葉もちょうど見頃の時期です。

Nanzen-ji Temple's Sanmon visited early in the morning when the morning sun was still hidden in the mountains. After November 20th, the autumn leaves are in full bloom.

In Nanzenji, the regular holidays in November are the most crowded. (November 23 is Saturday in 2019.)
At Sanzen-ji Temple, it is crowded during the daytime on weekends, so we recommend walking around the autumn leaves on weekdays if possible. There are 24 hours in the precincts.

From 8:40 in the morning, Nanzen-ji Temple's Sanmon and Hojo's admiration will start, and if it passes 10 o'clock in the morning, considerable congestion is expected.
Early in the morning, there is no crowd of tourists at Nanzenji Temple, so it is recommended that you can see the moment when the sun rises gradually from the eastern mountain and the color of the autumn leaves changes from Sanmon.

What is the light up of the Sanmon gate of Nanzenji?

There is no light up of the autumn leaves of Sanmon in Nanzenji, Kyoto.
At Nanzen-ji Temple, only Tenjuan is lit up at the best time to see the autumn leaves.

What is Sanzen-ji's address, admission time, and admission fee?

南禅寺の三門の苔の上の散紅葉と紅葉

Nanzenji Basic Information

Address: 86 Fukuchi-cho, Nanzenji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8435, Japan

Opening hours: March to November 8:40 to 17:00 December to February 8:40 to 16:30

Reception is 20 minutes before

  • No public viewing at the end of the year (12 / 28-31)

Admission fee: The precincts are free, but the following fee is required.

Sanmon gate 500 yen, high school student 400 yen, elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

Hojo Garden General 500 yen, high school student 400 yen, elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

Nanzen-in General 300 yen, high school student 250 yen, elementary and junior high school students 150 yen

Photogenic Suirokaku of Nanzenji!

Suirokaku of Nanzenji

Near Sanzen Temple in Kyoto's Nanzen-ji Temple is a brick suidobashi called “Suirokaku”.

It was designed and designed by Goro Tanabe so as not to damage the scenic beauty of the Nanzen-ji temple.
It was built in the Meiji era to draw water from Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture to Kyoto and Osaka in the Meiji period, and is still active as a hydrophobic bridge. Even now, water (hydrophobic) is flowing over Suirokaku.

Nanzenji Suirokaku is 93.2 meters long (4 meters wide and 9 meters high) and is made of brick and granite.
The red brick Roman arch has a unique atmosphere.
The middle of the bridge girder is a space, but it is popular to stand here and take a picture.

When is the best time to see the autumn leaves of Suirokaku in Nanzenji?

Nanzenji Suirokaku and autumn leaves
Nanzenji Suirokaku and autumn leaves

Suirokaku and the autumn foliage at Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto spread an impressive world where some Western and Eastern landscapes were mixed.

The best time to enjoy the contrast between Nanzen-ji's Suirokaku and autumn leaves is recommended from mid-November to late.

The best time to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto depends on the climate and temperature of the year.

How is Suirokaku crowded in Nanzenji?

Nanzenji Suirokaku and autumn leaves
Nanzenji Suirokaku and autumn leaves

Nanzenji's Suirokaku is a popular photo spot for instagrams, and it is getting crowded every year.
Nanzenji's Suirokaku is always crowded with tourists, so it is recommended that you take a picture early in the morning on weekdays so that someone is taking a picture so that no one is in it.
Suirokaku at Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto is open 24 hours a day.

Collaboration between Tenjuan's autumn leaves and bamboo forest at Nanzenji!


Tenjuan no teien no kōyō
14/5000
Autumn leaves in Tenjuan garden
Autumn leaves in Tenjuan garden

Tenjuan is one of the towers of Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto, next to Sanmon.

Tenjuan in Kyoto can enjoy gorgeous autumn leaves in the main garden east garden of Karesansui and the Shoen south garden of Chisenkaiyushiki and two gardens.
When I visited Tenshin after November 20, I was able to enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves.
In the Chisenkaiyushiki garden centering on the pond, the green and autumn leaves of the bamboo forest are kept in an exquisite balance.

天授庵の池泉回遊式庭園の池と鯉

It was a moment to feel the atmosphere of Kyoto.

Beautiful Hojo garden in Tenjuan, Nanzenji!

Autumn leaves of Hojo Garden in Tenjuan
Autumn leaves of Hojo Garden in Tenjuan

The Hojo Garden in Tenjuan is Karesansui's garden, where rhombus-shaped stones lined with moss are lined up in white sand, giving the viewer a modern and extraordinary impression.

Tenjuan's Hojo garden is a popular way to look out from the building.
You can see a beautiful picture of autumn leaves from the Shoin bran.

When is the best time to see the autumn leaves of Tenjuan in Nanzenji?

Autumn leaves of Tenjuan

The best time to see the autumn leaves of Tenjuan at Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto is mid to late November.
Of course, the best time to see the autumn leaves depends on the climate and temperature of Kyoto that year.

According to the weather forecast from the latest weather information site, the best time to see autumn leaves in 2019 is expected to be around late November.  Even at the end of the best season for autumn leaves in early December, the fallen autumn leaves spread over the white sand and there is an emotional landscape.

What is the crowded situation of Tenjuan in Nanzenji?

ライトアップされた天授庵の方丈庭園の紅葉
天授庵の方丈庭園の紅葉

Tenjuan in Kyoto is less crowded than Eikan-do in nearby Kyoto and Suirokaku in Nanzenji.
However, many tourists visit Tenjuan to light up the best time to see the autumn leaves.

If you want to enjoy the daytime autumnal frame garden, we recommend the first morning or the evening before lighting up.
If you want to see the Tenjuan garden during the light up quietly without being crowded, it is recommended that you go past 20:00 on weekdays.

Light up of Tenjuan in Nanzenji!

Illuminated autumn leaves of Hojo Garden in Tenjuan
Illuminated autumn leaves of Hojo Garden in Tenjuan

A special night view where the garden is lit up is held at the Tenzen Temple in Nanzenji, Kyoto.

At Nanzen-ji Temple, only celestial gifts are lit up at night.
As you walk through the Shoin along the regular route while watching the beautiful light-up, you will see a garden that looks like a masterpiece of Nishiki autumn that emerges in the dark night.
During the autumn light-up period, the Tenshu-en is crowded.
If you want to enjoy the garden slowly, we recommend around 9am or in the evening before the light up.

Tenjuan autumn light-up schedule
11/15/2019-11/30 17: 30-21: 00 (20:45)
Entrance fee for light-up hours is 600 yen
Address: 86, Nanzenji Fukuchicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8435, Japan
Hours: 9: 00-17: 00 Winter (11 / 15-) 9: 00-16: 30
Regular admission fee: General 500 yen, High school 400 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

What are the recommended spots for autumn leaves near Nanzenji?

The autumn leaves around the pond in Eikando Hall
The autumn leaves around the pond in Eikando Hall

Eikando

Eikando is 15 minutes on foot from Nanzen-ji Temple.
Nanzenji and Eikando are both the most famous autumnal spots in Kyoto.
Eikando is crowded at the best time to see the autumn leaves, but you can still see the wonderful autumn scenery that you should visit.
Especially, the light up of the autumn leaves at Eikando is wonderful.

Please be sure to visit Eikando in Kyoto!

Summary:Nanzen-ji temple with wonderful autumn leaves! Sanmon gate, Suirokaku and Tenjuan.

Autumn leaves in Nanzenji

Depending on whether you want to see the gradation of green, yellow, red or whether you want to see the landscape of red maple leaves on the moss, please plan according to your preference whether you visit in the first half or the second half.

To avoid the crowds of Nanzenji, we recommend visiting early in the morning.
The atmosphere of the air is delicious and the scenery of the autumn leaves at Nanzen-ji Temple changes with the sunlight.

The light up of the Nanzenji area is only available at Tenjuan in Nanzenji, Kyoto.

Based on the photos and information introduced here, please enjoy the Nanzen-ji Temple in autumn and fully enjoy the atmosphere of Kyoto!

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