About the Kodaiji Kaisando Hall
The Kodaiji Kaisando Hall (高台寺開山堂) is a Buddhist hall of 1605 at Kodaiji in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 7, 1900. The temple describes it as a former private chapel (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kodaiji).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as five bays by three, single-storey, with a hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) hongawara tile roof. It is owned by Kodaiji, the temple founded in 1606 by Kita no Mandokoro (Nene) for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, which has five buildings designated Important Cultural Properties (Kodaiji, Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Designated
The Kodaiji Kaisando was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1900. According to Kodaiji, the pond gardens spreading east and west from it are attributed to Kobori Enshu.
What to Look For
The Kodaiji Kaisando is five bays by three under a hip-and-gable hongawara tile roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
It sits at the centre of the temple's pond gardens (Kodaiji); seen with the ponds on either side, it shows the layout of the grounds from the temple's founding.
Visiting the Kodaiji Kaisando Hall
Kodaiji is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last entry 5:00 p.m.). Admission is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for junior and senior high school students, and a combined discount ticket with Entokuin is 1,200 yen. Hours are extended during special evening openings such as in autumn (Kodaiji).
From the Higashiyama Yasui city bus stop it is a 7-minute walk east, or about 10 minutes from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan line (Kodaiji).
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Q&A
- When was the Kodaiji Kaisando built?
- In 1605 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What surrounds the Kodaiji Kaisando?
- Pond gardens to east and west, attributed to Kobori Enshu (Kodaiji).
- What form does the Kodaiji Kaisando take?
- Five bays by three, hip-and-gable with hongawara tiles (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Kodaiji Kaisando designated?
- On April 7, 1900.
- Can you visit the Kodaiji Kaisando Hall?
- Kodaiji is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; adult admission is 800 yen (Kodaiji).
Basic Information
| Name | Kodaiji Kaisando Hall (高台寺開山堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Shimogawara-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1900/4/7 (Meiji 33) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Five bays by three, single-storey, with a hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) hongawara tile roof |
| Owner | Kodaiji |
| Public Access | Open (admission charged) |
References
- Kodaiji Kaisando Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1784
- History (Kodaiji)
- https://www.kodaiji.com/rekishi.html
- Visiting (Kodaiji)
- https://www.kodaiji.com/haikan.html
Last verified: 2026.10.07
