Shuon-an Ikkyu-ji Temple

Around the Hojo of Ikkyu-ji Temple, there is a garden designated as a famous spot that was created during the Edo period. The southern garden features azaleas and cycads arranged on a slope covered with white sand, overlooking Ikkyu-san's mausoleum and the Kyoiku-an. The eastern garden is a garden of sixteen arhats, with small and large stones arranged in a straight line. The northern garden is a Horai garden with giant rocks, stone towers, and lanterns in addition to the Penglai garden. This is a recommended place for those who want to see historic gardens or visit places related to Ikkyu-san.

The main hall of Ikkyu-ji Temple was built by Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. The abbot's quarters, bathhouse, and Karmon gate were created during the Edo period through donations from Maeda Toshitsune, the lord of the Kaga domain, and remain to this day. The sliding door paintings in the abbot's quarters are the work of Kano Tan'yu, and there are also preserved palanquins and wooden statues that are said to have been used by Ikkyu. This is the place where Ikkyu spent his later years, and you can see valuable buildings and cultural assets from the Muromachi period.

As a temple associated with Ikkyu-san, the gift offerings at Ikkyu-ji Temple are unique compared to those of other temples. They offer handmade doll straps in the shape of Ikkyu-san, called "Ikkyu-san dolls". There are also dolls of people associated with Ikkyu-san, such as his mother, and they are so cute that you can't help but want to collect them. In addition, the ema (votive plaques) at Ikkyu-ji Temple are inscribed with the phrase "One good deed per year", and are ema in which you vow to do at least one good deed per year. They are all items that allow you to feel the teachings and personality of Ikkyu-san, so you are sure to find a favorite gift offering.

"Koikuan" at Shun'ōan Ikkyū-ji Temple is a small tea room that was relocated from Kyoto's Higashiyama district. It became a place like a cultural salon, where tea master Murata Shukō and Noh playwright Kanze Zenjō gathered to honor Ikkyū Sōjun, who lived in Koikuan. Ikkyū's Zen and tea spirit was passed down to Sen no Rikyū and others in later generations, playing a significant role in the development of tea ceremony. At Koikuan, you can reflect on the history that became the origin of tea ceremony.

In addition to the autumn foliage season, it's also recommended to visit during the blue maple season from early summer to summer. Especially, the blue maple viewed from the stone-paved approach is a spectacular sight. In the blue maple tunnel, you can enjoy various shades of green, from refreshing green to dark green, and seasonal flowers such as sarasoju are also on display. While the autumn foliage season tends to be the focus, you can feel a different atmosphere from the bright red autumn leaves of autumn.