Daikakuji Shinden

About the Daikakuji Shinden

The Daikakuji Shinden (大覚寺宸殿) is a hip-and-gable building with a cypress-bark roof, built in 1619 at Daikakuji in Saga, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, and designated an Important Cultural Property on April 25, 1927. It was given to the temple by Emperor Go-Mizunoo (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Daikakuji).

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as 20.0 metres by 13.6 metres, single-storey, with a hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) cypress-bark roof. It is owned by the religious corporation Daikakuji, an imperial temple created from Emperor Saga's detached palace and known as the Saga Palace (Kyoto City Tourism Association).

Residence of Empress Tofukumon-in

According to Daikakuji, the Shinden was used as the residence of Tofukumon-in Kazuko, daughter of the second shogun Tokugawa Hidetada and consort of the emperor, and was given to the temple by Emperor Go-Mizunoo. The Kyoto City Tourism Association likewise describes it as her residence.

A mandarin orange tree and a plum tree are planted before it, recalling the imperial palace (Daikakuji).

Why It Was Designated

The Daikakuji Shinden was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1927. The peony and red plum paintings by Kano Sanraku in its Peony and Red Plum rooms are well known as representative Momoyama gold-ground works (Daikakuji, Kyoto City Tourism Association).

What to Look For

The Daikakuji Shinden measures 20.0 metres by 13.6 metres under a hip-and-gable cypress-bark roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its gable ornaments, bargeboards and ceilings are richly worked, and the cicada fittings on its hinged shutters are finely made (Daikakuji).

The corridor linking the Shinden with the Shingyo front hall, called the Murasame corridor, has a low ceiling so that no sword or spear could be raised, and a nightingale floor that sings underfoot (Daikakuji).

Visiting the Daikakuji Shinden

According to the Kyoto City Tourism Association, the hall area and the Osawa Pond area are both open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.). Admission to the hall area is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for school pupils; the pond area is 500 yen and 100 yen. The temple may close irregularly for its own ceremonies.

Take a city or Kyoto bus to Daikakuji, or walk about 20 minutes from the north exit of JR Saga-Arashiyama Station. Telephone 075-871-0071 (Kyoto City Tourism Association). Photography and video inside the halls are not permitted (Daikakuji).