Giouji Temple

A Shingon Daikaku-ji Buddhist temple located in Ukyo Ward in Kyoto City. Known as the “Covenant of Blighted Love,” it even appears in the ancient epic, The Tale of the Heike. Legend has it that Gio, a dancing girl who lost the love of military leader Taira no Kiyomori to a woman named Hotoke-gozen, joined this temple as a nun together with her mother and younger sister. Thereafter, Hotoke-gozen was also welcomed into the temple, and the four quietly spent their remaining years here. The Soan, a thatched hut, houses the temple’s principle object of worship, a figure of Vairocana, as well as wooden figures of Taira no Kiyomori, Gio, her younger sister Ginyo, her mother Toji, and Hotoke-gozen. The Hokyoin-to is said to mark the graves of Gio and Ginyo. The Yoshino Window in an anteroom of the Soan is famous for casting a rainbow colored image.

Spot details

Address: Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagatorimotokozakachou 32 Map
Area: Arashiyama / Sagano / Takao Area
Phone: 0758613574
Hours: 9:00-17:00(16:30Last entry)
Closed: 1/1
Fees: [Admission fee] [Adult] 300yen [elementary, junior high and high school students] 100yen
Parking Lot: Not available
Credit Card: Not available
Smoking: Not available
Wi-Fi: Not available
Note: Temporary closure:Currently closed (information as of May 5, 2020)
* Information may be changed, so please be sure to check the official information.
Estimated stay time: 30-60 minutes
Infant friendly: Available