Daisen-in Temple
Daisen-in Temple
3.5
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Neighbourhood: Northern Kyoto
Hot springs and historic temples characterize the leafy landscapes of Northern Kyoto. Acres of tranquil residential streets are interrupted by some of Kyoto's most gorgeous architectural gems, including the majestic Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji, the serene artistry of the Ryoanji Temple rock gardens, and the bold red paint across the structures of Enryakuji Temple. Once a religious core of the city, the district now boasts some of its most remote and peaceful hot springs, as well as a few of its best family-run mom-and-pop restaurants. A blend of extremely local at its outskirts, and highly peopled at its tourist centers, Northern Kyoto nonetheless retains a halcyon air in harmony with nature.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
104 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
32
Average
15
Poor
8
Terrible
20
PASP123
Hexham, UK331 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
The garden itself is a delightful space to contemplate, but this big positive is unfortunately outweighed by the over precious rule of no photography, which then results in the guide hovering over you to make sure you obey this rule. This immediately detracts from the wish to be by oneself and observe the setting. We found this quite off-putting. If there is a rule like this I will stick by it (even if I may not see the purpose) as I am on someone else's patch, but what I don't need is a close attendant guard!
Written 11 November 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.
Leonard G
New York251 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
If you don't get Zen gardens or think you can "see" this little site in a few minutes, then please do not waste your money. However, if you enjoy the quiet, meditational beauty of stone gardens, then by all means, this should be high on your list of places to see in Kyoto. At 800 yen, its is on the high side of temple entrance fees, but how much did that plane ticket cost you? The small main building is surrounded on all sides by Zen gardens, each with its distinctive character and symbolic significance. Yes, the spaces are small, but that is part of their attraction... to create microcosmic versions of the natural cosmos. The raked gravel, the strategically placed stones, the tiny islands of moss and gnarled, miniature trees are all there for your patient contemplation. So the site is well worth a visit. However, there are less visited temples where you can more likely enjoy a zen garden in greater peace and tranquility. While Daisen is a sea of calm compared to the big name, blockbuster sites, it is pretty busy, and it has some annoying rules, number one being no photos. Still, I highly recommend it if you can take the time to sit and wait for the quieter moments.
Written 7 October 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.
GMack73
Long Beach, CA16 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
If you are a foreigner they give a written guide to carry around. As others have indicated they don't permit you to take any pictures. If you wander around on your own you won't get to see everything and you will be disappointed. But if you tag along with the Japanese seeking tour guides you can see everything. You may not understand them but at least you can see the rooms that are closed off if you just wander along by yourself.
Written 16 July 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.
hfot2 🌸🍁🌸
Vermont7,576 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Don’t miss the photographable zodiac in the pavement in front of the entrance.
No photography is allowed inside the garden of this temple compound.
If you want to take garden photos, go to one of the other subtemples where photography is allowed.
No photography is allowed inside the garden of this temple compound.
If you want to take garden photos, go to one of the other subtemples where photography is allowed.
Written 18 January 2024
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.
nowhereperson
vancouver1 contribution
Mar 2019 • Couples
When we purchased admission tickets, we asked why photo taking was not allowed.
A female staff sold tickets to us, mid sixties, wearing a black flamed pair of glasses, probably 5'.0"-5'2" tall, did not clearly explained the reasons to us.
Anyway, we accepted the temple's policies. I had a backpack, and what she said to me was, "You can not take photos! You don't have a camera!".
Her attitude was very unfriendly, doubtfully, forcefully and humiliating.
And, then she immediately run to the men (I guess they were Buddhist monks) like soldiers standing each corner of the architecture and whispered to them.
THE WORST THING WAS SHE WAS ALWAYS CHASING US ALL THE TIME IN OUR ENTIRE VISIT AT THE TEMPLE.
I FELT THAT WE WERE IN JAIL/PRISON.
Why did they treat us like criminals.
I could not bear it. I left there in less than 10 min.
It was my last day in Japan and the last visiting spot in my BELOVED city KYOTO.
I'll never visit the temple again, and never recommend to anybody.
I've been so so so sad.
I hope you understand how I feel. Thanks.
A female staff sold tickets to us, mid sixties, wearing a black flamed pair of glasses, probably 5'.0"-5'2" tall, did not clearly explained the reasons to us.
Anyway, we accepted the temple's policies. I had a backpack, and what she said to me was, "You can not take photos! You don't have a camera!".
Her attitude was very unfriendly, doubtfully, forcefully and humiliating.
And, then she immediately run to the men (I guess they were Buddhist monks) like soldiers standing each corner of the architecture and whispered to them.
THE WORST THING WAS SHE WAS ALWAYS CHASING US ALL THE TIME IN OUR ENTIRE VISIT AT THE TEMPLE.
I FELT THAT WE WERE IN JAIL/PRISON.
Why did they treat us like criminals.
I could not bear it. I left there in less than 10 min.
It was my last day in Japan and the last visiting spot in my BELOVED city KYOTO.
I'll never visit the temple again, and never recommend to anybody.
I've been so so so sad.
I hope you understand how I feel. Thanks.
Written 10 March 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.
ts902018
Toronto, Canada27 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
Do not go there. No photos are allowed.
Greedy monk and ladies are working to sell from teas to Japanese scrolls.
First I thought they were very kind enough to explain temple and garden history until I was asked to enter the room with many scrolls and price tags. I realized they were offering their kindness to sell snacks, scrolls, books and postcards etc. Even there was a monk selling everything.
It is very sad to see those greedy people at the temple.
Please visit Ryogen-in temple in same area.
Greedy monk and ladies are working to sell from teas to Japanese scrolls.
First I thought they were very kind enough to explain temple and garden history until I was asked to enter the room with many scrolls and price tags. I realized they were offering their kindness to sell snacks, scrolls, books and postcards etc. Even there was a monk selling everything.
It is very sad to see those greedy people at the temple.
Please visit Ryogen-in temple in same area.
Written 19 December 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.
Eelsfan85
Sydney, Australia115 contributions
Oct 2019
We felt ripped off after having visited this temple. We paid the price of admission only to be told afterwards that you couldn't take photos of the garden. I fully understand the need for this in the temple itself (which was under renovation) but thought it ridiculous that you couldn't even take pics of the gardens. The gardens themselves were ok but I'd recommend spending your money at the nearby Zuihoin which had nicer gardens (although now temple).
Written 27 October 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.
Stacy C
Chicago, IL255 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
I went here are part of a group tour. We were "treated" to a long meditation "session" presided over by one of the monks in a very cold room and if you didn't sit perfectly still he would yell at you. I suppose some may enjoy this but I found it annoying. You can't expect people who have never mediated to be able to sit in perfect stillness and silence for 15+ minutes.
We got a tour of the grounds after, and while they were pretty, everything led to buying something. I kind of felt bad for the monk they had shilling stuff in the main room. They told us he was historic but how were we to know? I just had a negative feeling about the blatant merch push.
We got a tour of the grounds after, and while they were pretty, everything led to buying something. I kind of felt bad for the monk they had shilling stuff in the main room. They told us he was historic but how were we to know? I just had a negative feeling about the blatant merch push.
Written 2 February 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.
nicktaber2017
Dalian, China17 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Very sad that an institution like this would be so driven by greed. The entrance costs 400 yen and there's pretty much nothing to see. The lady selling the ticket tried to upsell us on lots of other stuff. Then there's a monk sitting in there trying to get you to buy more stuff. There are signs everywhere exclaiming how you cannot take pictures because someone took pictures and sold them online before. I guess they missed out on another chance to enrich themselves.
Written 24 August 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.
TheFirstStep
Innsbruck, Austria4 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
An overcrowded mediocre small zen garden combined with a strict non photograph policy. In my opinion a waste of time. There are far better temples in Kyoto and around....skip this one.
Written 19 October 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.
Hello! I would like to know the name of the Abbot of Daisen-in. We first visited in 2003 and he signed my guidebook and made prayers for a deceased friend. We visited again in 2010. Thank you very much.
Written 30 June 2016
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