Gio-ji Temple

Gio-ji Temple

Gio-ji Temple
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: 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.
Reach out directly

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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles419 reviews
Excellent
232
Very good
145
Average
33
Poor
6
Terrible
3

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Della G
Coquitlam, Canada790 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
There are so many temples in Kyoto to view and one has to be selective especially if you have to pay an admission fee. We elected to visit the Gio-ji temple and we were not disappointed. This is one of the prettiest temple grounds in Kyoto. It is quite small and intimate, so peaceful and serene. As you walk through this small garden area, the trees, rocks, bamboo and of course, the moss area flow and mesh seamlessly together and one is completely entranced with this enchanting experience. There is a small hut which has some floral displays. This hut and likewise all the ornaments and ground decoration completes the temple's enchanting setting.
Written July 30, 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.

Acquamarina13
Galatina, Italy98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
All that reigns here is peace, silence, tranquility and... moss. The path in the garden is quite short, but it is absolutely worth it. You feel immersed in greenery, suspended in time and far from any worries. Mandatory stop during the visit to Arashiyama.
Automatically translated
Written September 13, 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.

Mark Harris
Melbourne, Australia98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Stunning! Although the garden can be walked through in 5 minutes, you could comfortably spend up to 15 minutes here soaking it in. The ultimate moss sanctuary. Only 15 minutes walk from the Bamboo Grove.

Two bonuses are 1: Tourists don't seem to know about this place, so it's fairly quiet 2: The walk there has lots of unique shops and restaurants (cash only).
Written November 16, 2023
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.

Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan15,555 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 January 6, 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, Denmark128 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 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.
Written September 12, 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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written September 14, 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 Lanka60 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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!
Written August 19, 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
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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 December 22, 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, UK280 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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 June 29, 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written June 27, 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.

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Gio-ji Temple, Kyoto

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