Jinkoin Temple Rengetsuan

The Hermitage of Otagaki Rengetsu

The Jinkoin Temple Rengetsuan (神光院蓮月庵) is the small sukiya-style hermitage where Otagaki Rengetsu lived of the late Edo period in Nishigamo Jinkoincho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 26, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 51 square metres; registration number 26-0630.

The Home of Otagaki Rengetsu

According to Kyoto City, Jinkoin is said to have been founded in 1217 after an oracle received by a priest of Kamigamo Shrine, which gave the temple its name; it is counted with To-ji and Ninna-ji as one of the three Kobo temples of Kyoto and is known locally as the Kobo-san of Nishigamo.

The Rengetsuan, a small late Edo hermitage beside the gate in front of the main hall, was the home of Otagaki Rengetsu (Agency for Cultural Affairs); Kyoto City describes it as the last home of this late Edo nun, poet and potter.

Gabled and tiled, with a lean-to on the south and canopies over the earth-floored entrances on the east and north, it has an earth floor in the north-east corner, a three-mat room on the west enshrining Fudo Myoo, and an entrance and kitchen in the southern half. Its ceiling of close-set smoked bamboo and its round window add sukiya touches to the little house (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the smoked-bamboo ceiling and round window that add sukiya touches to the hermitage (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Jinkoin Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting hours or fees was found. The main hall, guest hall, Chukodo, Rengetsuan and gate are introduced together on the Jinkoin Temple page.