Kyoto, Tofukuji

A little bit off the beaten track, except in autumn, Tofukuji is something of a hidden pearl. There is so much to be seen in Kyoto, that a less famous temple like Tofukuji easily gets dropped from the initial plan. For most people it is not at a very convenient walking distance from down town Kyoto where you already have plenty of must-visit spots close to each other, and not important enough to use time and money to get there. Which is good. For people like me and a few others who like to see impressive architecture and really fantastic gardens in a quiet location.

But all that changes dramatically in november when the leaves start to change their color. Never ending lines with busses work their way up the hill, and tourists invade the temple garden to have a look at the spectacular colors. Try to avoid weekends and it's not too bad.

Tofukuji has three different gardens; a park with maples, including a chinese garden, and a zen rock garden.

Video clips

Tofukuji in autumn
Mp4 0:26min 2.9MB