Myōshin-ji - Sub-temples

Sub-temples

There are 40-odd sub-temples (塔頭, tatchū?) of the main temple (Myōshin-ji states 46, but lists 49), of which 30-odd are within the grounds of the main complex, and 10 are in the surrounding area. These include:

Within the grounds

Open year-round

• Taizō-in (退蔵院?) – most noted sub-temple, garden and ink paintings
• Shunkō-in (春光院?) – connections with Christianity and with Buddhist philosophy, meditation in English
• Daishin-in (大心院?) – rock garden "aum garden" (阿吽の庭, aun no niwa?), shukubō
• Keishun-in (桂春院?) – tea garden (matcha tea served)

Seasonal openings

• Tōrin-in – seasonal openings (parts of January, July, and October), year-round shukubō and shōjin-ryōri
• Daihō-in 大法院 – spring and autumn openings (new leaves and autumn leaves: early April through early May, and November, respectively)

Limited admission (conditions apply)

• Daiyū-in 大雄院

Closed to public

(Others)

Off the grounds

Open to the public

• Ryōan-ji – short walk away, world-famous rock garden, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Limited admission

• Eshō-in 慧照院 – just south of main grounds, limited admission; seasonal opening for camellia garden in late April
• Seigen-in 西源院 – just south of Ryōan-ji, limited admission

Closed to the public

(Others)