Yoshimine-dera
Yoshimine-dera
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
140 reviews
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57
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6
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Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan15,193 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
Because of its location, it is not as known as Kiyomizudera or Kinkakuji, but in my opinion Yoshimine-dera is certainly one of a must-see temple in Kyoto. On a mountainside there are many small halls, and you can make a tour of those by climbing and descending. The view of Kyoto from the temple is panoramic. It is said that the temple is known for red leaves. So, I have to return again for that season. There is a public bus from Hankyu Higashimuko station. If you walk from that station, it takes more than one hour.
Written 16 October 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.
lantagee
Cairns, Australia10 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
This is my favourite place to see autumn leaves in Kyoto. In late November when the Japanese maples are turning into their spectacular red, orange and yellow colours masses of people come from all around the country and overseas to see this wonderful occasion. And therein lies the problem. Everybody comes and in particular Arashiyama is so crowded you literally cannot move across Togetsukyo bridge in the peak season on a weekend. So with that in mind if you are visting Kyoto during the autumn foliage season I would choose Yoshimine as the best place to go because it has everything you want, maple leaves, a large sprawling garden in temple grounds, a long history and sweeping views over Kyoto without the hordes.
Now, be warned in advance that few foreign tourists make the journey because its about one hour trip by train and bus from central Kyoto but its worth the effort especially in autumn. Also, its a very large garden and temple so you can see it all in an hour if you hurry but you can enjoy much more if take a leisurely 2 hours or so if you wish. So it will take at least half a day traveling from either Osaka or Kyoto but its well worth the effort.
So Yoshiminedera lies in the western hills and the temple is perched on a mountain peak that affords views across all Kyoto, making it a rare place just for that alone. The temple was founded in the 11th century and one can feel that at that time it would have been like for the Buddhist monks because not much has changed. One notable feature is the "Gliding Dragon" pine tree, which has been trained to grow horizontally and is about 50 meters long. The gardens contain various buildings connected to the temple, surrounded by forest and nothing else. There are ponds with carp, some soothing waterfalls and a peaceful resting place to view all of the city of Kyoto. In Kyoto where modern buildings are on top of ancient sights Yoshiminedera stands out because you get the full ambience of the mountain temple without any of the concrete, powerlines or crowds of people. It really is an island of serenity and a few hours here will be well spent and you wont regret the time and effort you put into getting here.
How to get there:
Its not difficult, one train from Osaka or Kyoto plus one bus.
There are 2 lines, those on the JR pass can use the JR line for others who can use the Hankyu line which is cheaper.
JR
JR向日町駅-Mukomachi Take the local service train not the express.
Get off at this station and catch the Hankyu bus 66. It takes about 30 minutes to reach Yoshiminedera which is the last stop. Then walk about 5 minutes up the hill to reach the temple entrance. It's a steep hill!
Hankyu
阪急東向日Hankyu Higashi Muko(be careful there is Nishi Muko station)
Get off at this station and catch the Hankyu bus 66. Same again, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Yoshiminedera which is the last stop. Then walk about 5 minutes up the hill to reach the temple entrance. The first 5 minutes is a steep hill but afterwards the temple only has some gentle slopes.
Now, be warned in advance that few foreign tourists make the journey because its about one hour trip by train and bus from central Kyoto but its worth the effort especially in autumn. Also, its a very large garden and temple so you can see it all in an hour if you hurry but you can enjoy much more if take a leisurely 2 hours or so if you wish. So it will take at least half a day traveling from either Osaka or Kyoto but its well worth the effort.
So Yoshiminedera lies in the western hills and the temple is perched on a mountain peak that affords views across all Kyoto, making it a rare place just for that alone. The temple was founded in the 11th century and one can feel that at that time it would have been like for the Buddhist monks because not much has changed. One notable feature is the "Gliding Dragon" pine tree, which has been trained to grow horizontally and is about 50 meters long. The gardens contain various buildings connected to the temple, surrounded by forest and nothing else. There are ponds with carp, some soothing waterfalls and a peaceful resting place to view all of the city of Kyoto. In Kyoto where modern buildings are on top of ancient sights Yoshiminedera stands out because you get the full ambience of the mountain temple without any of the concrete, powerlines or crowds of people. It really is an island of serenity and a few hours here will be well spent and you wont regret the time and effort you put into getting here.
How to get there:
Its not difficult, one train from Osaka or Kyoto plus one bus.
There are 2 lines, those on the JR pass can use the JR line for others who can use the Hankyu line which is cheaper.
JR
JR向日町駅-Mukomachi Take the local service train not the express.
Get off at this station and catch the Hankyu bus 66. It takes about 30 minutes to reach Yoshiminedera which is the last stop. Then walk about 5 minutes up the hill to reach the temple entrance. It's a steep hill!
Hankyu
阪急東向日Hankyu Higashi Muko(be careful there is Nishi Muko station)
Get off at this station and catch the Hankyu bus 66. Same again, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Yoshiminedera which is the last stop. Then walk about 5 minutes up the hill to reach the temple entrance. The first 5 minutes is a steep hill but afterwards the temple only has some gentle slopes.
Written 7 February 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.
ChouquetteSG
Singapore132 contributions
Nov 2015
In our opinion, we think the area around Yoshiminedera Temple is the best half day we had spent in Kyoto, after visiting all the other popular sights. We love this place simply because it isn't crowded with huge groups of tourists and we can take our time to enjoy each spot along the way up. This place is in the Western area and takes some time to get to by train and bus but it is really worth the journey here.
Directions: JR Kyoto Line from Kyoto Station to Mukomachi Station (7 minutes, 180 yen). Then, the temple can be reached by Hankyu Bus #66 outside the station in 30 minutes and for 350 yen one way. There is one bus per hour.
Bus Departures from JR station:
8:35, 9:35, 10:35, 11:35, 12:35, 13:35, 14:35, 15:35
Bus Departures from Yoshiminedera:
9:24, 10:24, 11:24, 12:24, 13:24, 14:24, 15:24, 16:24
Firstly, PLEASE DO NOT BRING A BABY STROLLER. Once you alight from the bus, you start your visit with a pretty steep 10 minute hike. Take it easy.
There are so many different spots along the way, please allow at least 3 hours at this place if you have a toddler with you. There are lots of open spaces for little ones to run around. This sight offers a great view of the city and a open area with some seats where you can enjoy looking at the autumn foliage and a few spots along the way that gives you a different perspective of the temple below.
I would recommend this place for families with young children, but don't bring the stroller. There are few flights of stairs and pebble ground and stone paths. This is a must see sight.
They don't have restaurants here. Plan an early trip here and head back to the area around JR station for lunch.
Directions: JR Kyoto Line from Kyoto Station to Mukomachi Station (7 minutes, 180 yen). Then, the temple can be reached by Hankyu Bus #66 outside the station in 30 minutes and for 350 yen one way. There is one bus per hour.
Bus Departures from JR station:
8:35, 9:35, 10:35, 11:35, 12:35, 13:35, 14:35, 15:35
Bus Departures from Yoshiminedera:
9:24, 10:24, 11:24, 12:24, 13:24, 14:24, 15:24, 16:24
Firstly, PLEASE DO NOT BRING A BABY STROLLER. Once you alight from the bus, you start your visit with a pretty steep 10 minute hike. Take it easy.
There are so many different spots along the way, please allow at least 3 hours at this place if you have a toddler with you. There are lots of open spaces for little ones to run around. This sight offers a great view of the city and a open area with some seats where you can enjoy looking at the autumn foliage and a few spots along the way that gives you a different perspective of the temple below.
I would recommend this place for families with young children, but don't bring the stroller. There are few flights of stairs and pebble ground and stone paths. This is a must see sight.
They don't have restaurants here. Plan an early trip here and head back to the area around JR station for lunch.
Written 4 December 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.
Yew Hong Ng
Singapore, Singapore195 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
Nobody goes to Kyoto without visiting the famous Kiyomizudera temple in the eastern hills of Kyoto. Very few, however, knows about the western counterpart Yoshiminedera which is also built along a slope in the hills and overlook the Kyoto city. Perhaps it's due to it being less accessible, but it is definitely worth the effort.
To reach this temple, I took the Hankyu train to Higashimuko. If you are taking the JR train, you need to get off at Muromachi station. Outside the station, there was a bus 66 which goes to the temple. It is an hourly bus so knowing its schedule would be useful. For me, I used Google map to find how to get to Yoshimine and the timing for the train and bus was accurate. It's a long bus ride up the hills and the temple is the last stop. Check the schedule for the return trip near where the bus stopped. Then just follow the road up to the temple. When I was there, the climbing slope was under repair so visitors had to use the car road leading to the carpark. The temple ground are huge and every corner is worth checking out. The views out to Kyoto city was magical as I was there early and there was mist covering part of the city.
There is also a bell which you can strike in the temple. Place a 50 yen in the box and you can strike it once. Near the bell there is a pine tree which has decided to grow horizontally instead of vertically. Then just try to move higher and you will be granted better and better views of Kyoto city.
Having visited Kyoto several times, I've found that the western side seems to preserve the autumn colors better than the eastern side. After Yoshimine I immediately crossed over to the eastern side and visited Gingakuji and the autumn colors have mostly faded.
To reach this temple, I took the Hankyu train to Higashimuko. If you are taking the JR train, you need to get off at Muromachi station. Outside the station, there was a bus 66 which goes to the temple. It is an hourly bus so knowing its schedule would be useful. For me, I used Google map to find how to get to Yoshimine and the timing for the train and bus was accurate. It's a long bus ride up the hills and the temple is the last stop. Check the schedule for the return trip near where the bus stopped. Then just follow the road up to the temple. When I was there, the climbing slope was under repair so visitors had to use the car road leading to the carpark. The temple ground are huge and every corner is worth checking out. The views out to Kyoto city was magical as I was there early and there was mist covering part of the city.
There is also a bell which you can strike in the temple. Place a 50 yen in the box and you can strike it once. Near the bell there is a pine tree which has decided to grow horizontally instead of vertically. Then just try to move higher and you will be granted better and better views of Kyoto city.
Having visited Kyoto several times, I've found that the western side seems to preserve the autumn colors better than the eastern side. After Yoshimine I immediately crossed over to the eastern side and visited Gingakuji and the autumn colors have mostly faded.
Written 10 December 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.
Brian O
Vancouver, Canada129 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Yoshimine dera is a large temple complex on the west side of Kyoto, away from the tourist crowds at the city centre and Arashiyama area. Another reviewer on TripAdvisor has detailed transportation to the temple complex, and it would make a nice half-day trip traveling from the bustling Kyoto to more a more rural settings.
The temple complex is surrounding by forested mountains, and would take up 2-3 hours (maybe 1.5 if you walk quickly) for one to soak up the environment and serenity. It makes a nice but not demanding hike. I recommend bringing some snacks and refreshments, there are plenty of small sitting areas on the temple grounds.
There is a 600-year old pine tree called the "Gliding Dragon" that grows ~5 feet tall, but 20m in length. The numbers didn't impress me much, but that tree was a sight to behold, and it is a beautiful natural monument.
We visited several temples in the Arashiyama area, but in my opinion those experiences pales compared to Yoshimine dera, which is more like a functional religious site, rather than a "20-Kyoto must-see" place. Also, the admission fee is only 500yen for an adult, but it will take well over 2 hours to enjoy and take in the temple and the surrounding forests.
The temple complex is surrounding by forested mountains, and would take up 2-3 hours (maybe 1.5 if you walk quickly) for one to soak up the environment and serenity. It makes a nice but not demanding hike. I recommend bringing some snacks and refreshments, there are plenty of small sitting areas on the temple grounds.
There is a 600-year old pine tree called the "Gliding Dragon" that grows ~5 feet tall, but 20m in length. The numbers didn't impress me much, but that tree was a sight to behold, and it is a beautiful natural monument.
We visited several temples in the Arashiyama area, but in my opinion those experiences pales compared to Yoshimine dera, which is more like a functional religious site, rather than a "20-Kyoto must-see" place. Also, the admission fee is only 500yen for an adult, but it will take well over 2 hours to enjoy and take in the temple and the surrounding forests.
Written 11 June 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.
moi_pixie
Singapore, Singapore90 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
Beautiful temple off the beaten track. Much less people than the other temples. Takes a train ride + 30-min bus ride but it’s totally worth the trip. If you are taking the bus, take note that the last bus back to train station is around 3.20pm. Climb up to the temple is a little steep. Compound is huge and recommend to plan at least 2hrs here. There is an amazing pine tree at 2m high and stretched abt 40m wide. View of the city is magnificent. Autumn leaves in the compound and surrounding mountain are beautiful
Written 5 November 2018
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.
femmemme
Singapore92 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
Yes, it is hard to get there but well worthed it. We took a cab from higashimuko which costed 2200yen. Not too bad if you have 4pax considering bus is 350/pax. Cab also brings you up the last stretch of steep slope beyond the bus dropoff!
The temple and gardens are arranged on a mountainside, flanked by higher mountain and look out to a flat plain. The gardens are superbly well kept. It is also quiet high up there. For some reason, this place gives the impression of one of those taoist sanctuary in chinese wuxia novel.
The temple and gardens are arranged on a mountainside, flanked by higher mountain and look out to a flat plain. The gardens are superbly well kept. It is also quiet high up there. For some reason, this place gives the impression of one of those taoist sanctuary in chinese wuxia novel.
Written 30 October 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.
DimasLaksani
Salatiga, Indonesia194 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
This is my one of favourite place to see autumn leaves in Kyoto. In early November i come to kyoto and when the Japanese maples are turning into their spectacular red, orange and yellow colours masses of people come from all around the country and overseas to see this wonderful occasion
Everybody comes and in particular Arashiyama is so crowded you literally cannot move across Togetsukyo bridge in the peak season on a weekend. So with that in mind if you are visting Kyoto during the autumn foliage season I would choose Yoshimine as the best place to go because it has everything you want, maple leaves, a large sprawling garden in temple grounds, a long history and sweeping views over Kyoto without the hordes.
Everybody comes and in particular Arashiyama is so crowded you literally cannot move across Togetsukyo bridge in the peak season on a weekend. So with that in mind if you are visting Kyoto during the autumn foliage season I would choose Yoshimine as the best place to go because it has everything you want, maple leaves, a large sprawling garden in temple grounds, a long history and sweeping views over Kyoto without the hordes.
Written 18 November 2017
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.
Chikichikki
131 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
ここはリードをして他の参拝者の迷惑にならなければペット同伴OKです。
春は枝垂れ桜、初夏の紫陽花、秋の紅葉はとても美しいお寺です。京都から南西に位置する長岡京市の山間にあるため、観光客も少なく、のんびり散策したい方にはオススメです！
ただ山間のお寺のため傾斜のきつい坂道が多いため、車椅子や杖歩行の方は介助者が必要です。
This temple accept the people with dogs. You can see the beautiful view of temple with Sakura in spring. And you also can see hydrangea and maple leafs in each season. It's located in Nagaoka-Kyo City not Kyoto-City so it's not crowded usually. If you would love to walk and enjoy nature, I recommend this temple.
春は枝垂れ桜、初夏の紫陽花、秋の紅葉はとても美しいお寺です。京都から南西に位置する長岡京市の山間にあるため、観光客も少なく、のんびり散策したい方にはオススメです！
ただ山間のお寺のため傾斜のきつい坂道が多いため、車椅子や杖歩行の方は介助者が必要です。
This temple accept the people with dogs. You can see the beautiful view of temple with Sakura in spring. And you also can see hydrangea and maple leafs in each season. It's located in Nagaoka-Kyo City not Kyoto-City so it's not crowded usually. If you would love to walk and enjoy nature, I recommend this temple.
Written 23 March 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.
LovemyFigaro
El Cerrito, CA20 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
I went to Yoshiminedera on Dec 2,2013. The first impression when we stepped out off the bus was a vibrant color of the lone Maple tree near the bus stop. All the way up to the mountain were so beautiful even though it was already too late for Falls Foliage. The whole complex were so breathtaking and you can see the panorama view of Kyoto from many spot upthere. The paths around the area were so serene and there is 600 years old Pine Tree with one branch stretched out 150 fts. This temple is number 20 of 33 Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage. It was not difficult at all to go there by public transportation. One of my favorite temple in Kyoto area.
Written 19 December 2013
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.
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