Tōfuku-ji Temple

Skip the crowds of Kiyomizu and come here. This is a beautiful temple where you can actually feel some peace and calm because it isn't packed shoulder to shoulder. The rock garden is very serene and there are people just sitting and meditating in the beauty. We missed the color change by maybe a few weeks but this place would be spectacular when colors change. It is packed with maples.

Absolutely loved it. As others have said, zen like feeling walking around here. No pushy, crowded, ignorant tourists like the the well known temples and castles. We legged it from our hotel opposite Kyoto station via the back streets, mixing with the locals. Crossed railway tracks with boom gates, fantastic. A great day. A true lesser known gem.

One of the more peaceful sites we visited while in Kyoto. Tōfuku-ji is one of the city’s great Zen temples, founded in the 13th century.

Visited Tofuku-ji Temple in summer, about two hours before closing. It wasn’t crowded, and the green, calm atmosphere helped cool down the hot summer heat. A peaceful and refreshing visit.

(Only visited 通天橋) A fresh green scenery in summer. Quiet but maybe better in the fall or spring with map leaves or cherry blossoms. Well maintained and cool.

Incredible temple with the best Zen garden I have ever visited. I write this review from the Hondo garden, where I have been reading and contemplating the sculptures for hours. So peaceful, and not as busy compared to the other temples in Kyoto. Take your time here, be respectful, and disconnect for a bit.

Visiting Tofuku-ji on a rainy day offered a completely different atmosphere — calm, serene, and deeply poetic. The rain brought out the rich greens of the moss and made the gardens feel even more peaceful. The stone paths glistened, and the whole temple grounds seemed to turn into a living ink painting. With fewer visitors around, I was able to really take in the quiet beauty and meditative mood of the place. I highly recommend coming here in different weather conditions — especially the rain — for a truly unique experience.

It's worth checking out! The ticket is required if you visit its old bridge and garden which is 500 Y (3.33$). The garden is spectacular. I went there on 31 July 2025. Imagine if that was in Autumn 🍁! The photo is prohibited at the bridge. But I read it's seasonal.

Came here after my family and I were almost crushed to death by total clusterfuck when we attempted to go to Fushimi Inari on new year day. We fled to next station from Inari, hoping to find peace and quiet at Tofukuji. And there it was. Far less people on New Year's Day, no queue at all. Although there is even a train station named after this place, this is not exactly popular destination for many. However, their magnificent architectures, especially "Tsutenbashi" a bridge over the valley w/ the roof were so worth to look at and property is well maintained and the garden looked beautiful. I wouldn't called "off the beaten path" but it's definitely less popular destination and find yourself relaxing and spiritual time there. This is what I'd like to call "hidden jewel".

Especially beautiful to come in the autumn when the foliage is at its peak, this Buddhist temple in Kyoto is fascinating to visit. General admission for the gardens and temples is ¥800 which isn't bad since it's large and the scenery is wonderful. It is a bit too crowded but worth it. If you're planning on visiting Kyoto then this is a great place to come. Recommended.

I guess I now understood why people flock this temple during autumn season. It's magical inside , except for the crowd. The ground is huge and lots of places to explore. Going to try to check this temple again in the different season.

It was very crowded here and we wouldn't have found it otherwise, but our cab driver was able to take us here through the windy, one lane roads. I nearly had a heart attack with how he was driving but low and behold, he dropped us off in front of this beautiful temple and we were able to explore the scenic area of foliage and beautiful colored trees. The temple itself lacks color like many other shrines we've been to but the designs are so intricate and beautiful!

I came here in November to admire autumn foliage. The beauty of the red, orange and yellow leaves (Japanese maple or momiji) are truly mesmerizing. It was so pretty that pictures are a must to capture and hold all the utterly gorgeous views. The only downside was that the trip to get there was too crowded for me. It was crowded on the train and very crowded walking there too. The entrance fee was only ¥600. This temple is located east of the Kyoto Station (京都駅). If you plan on walking there from the Kyoto Station, it is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km. One can also take a short train ride from the Kyoto station. Just hop onto the JR Nara Line (奈良線) and two minutes later, you will arrive at the Tofukuji station (東福寺駅) and then walk another ten minutes to arrive at the front entrance of the temple. Tofukuji also offers night illuminations during the autumn foliage season. Next time I will visit here during the evening hours.

Tofukuji in summer is hot! Anyway it's hot. Without the people taking a walk in the vicinity. And there are no places where I have tea. There is only a vending machine. Please be careful. There are a lot of temples. Colored leaves also seem cool in summer and are beautiful. A camera was left, so the person who goes to take a picture? Please go. It's away from the station, so it's heat exhaustion attention. Colored leaves are a beautiful temple. The autumnal tints of the autumn seem to be really admirably.

Well-known for its beautiful scenery of maple leaves. Sightseers flock to the place during the season in full swing. This site is a little different from other major autumn leaves viewing spots. That is, you can enjoy the magnificent view walking on the long wooden corridor called Tsutenbashi connecting the main hall to the other hall. There is no window, only large poles. I saw the maple leaves panorama from here. It was weekend that I visited here with my husband. Very crowded with the visitors. The maple leaves were changing its color gradually or partially yellow or crimson. The gradation and contrast is beyond my description. This temple is a little distant from the central part of the city. But worth bothering to come here. Around here small temples are spotted. How about strolling this tranquil Higashiyama area?