🍁2025-11-25 Savor the lingering autumn foliage – Report from Kyoto’s Sanzenin Maple Festival

Practice Japanese sentences out loud to make sure you remember them!

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2025年ねん11月がつ25日にち。
November 25, 2025.

この日ひは、京都きょうとの三千院さんぜんいんでもみじ祭まつりが開催中かいさいちゅうの期間きかんです。
This date falls during the Maple Festival at Sanzenin Temple in Kyoto.

例年れいねん10月がつ28日にちから約やく1か月間げつかん開催かいさいされるこの祭まつりは、現在げんざい、紅葉こうよう見み頃ころの真まっ只中ただなか。
The festival, which usually begins on October 28 and lasts for about a month, is currently in the midst of its peak autumn foliage season.

参道さんどうを歩あるけば、深ふかまった赤あかや橙だいだい、さらにその先さきの淡あわい色彩しきさいが織おりなす、まさに“紅葉こうようの絨毯じゅうたん”が広ひろがっています。
Walking along the approach to the temple, you’ll see a veritable carpet of autumn leaves, woven with deep reds and oranges and even paler hues.

11月がつ中旬ちゅうじゅんから下旬げじゅんにかけて最盛期さいせいきを迎むかえると言いわれるこの季節きせつ、今年ことしも期待きたいを裏切うらぎらず、木々きぎが最もっとも鮮あざやかな姿すがたを見みせています。
This season is said to be at its peak from mid- to late November, and this year does not disappoint, with the trees at their most vibrant.

葉はの一枚いちまい一枚いちまいが、今年ことしの陽光ようこうや風雨ふううを受うけ止とめ、まるで自然しぜんが紡つむいだ物語ものがたりを語かたっているかのようです。
Each leaf absorbs the year’s sunlight, wind, and rain, as if telling a story spun by nature.

境内けいだいでは既すでに散ちり紅葉こうようも見みられ、苔こけむした石段いしだんや庭園ていえんの池いけに舞まい落おちた葉はが静しずかに波紋はもんを作つくり出だしています。
The leaves have already fallen within the temple grounds, and the leaves that have fluttered onto the moss-covered stone steps and garden pond create gentle ripples.

その静寂せいじゃくの中なかにこそ、三千院さんぜんいんならではの“時間じかんがゆるやかに流ながれる秋あき”を感かんじることができます。
It is in this silence that you can experience the slow flow of autumn that is unique to Sanzenin Temple.

そして、このひとときに身(み)を委(ゆだ)ねることで、訪(おとず)れる人(ひと)自身(じしん)もまた、秋(あき)の記憶(きおく)の一頁(いちぺーじ)になれるのです。
And by surrendering yourself to this moment, visitors too can create a new page in their autumn memories.

今年ことしの秋あき、あなたはどんな色いろを心こころに残のこしましたか？
What colors have left an impression on you this autumn?

残のこり少すくないもみじ祭まつりの時間じかんを、あと何度なんどか振ふり返かえりながら、自然しぜんと自分じぶんとの対話たいわを楽たのしんでみましょう。
As you reflect on the remaining time of the Momiji Festival, enjoy a dialogue with nature and yourself.

朝あさの食事しょくじに感謝かんしゃします。
Be grateful for this morning meal.

🍁 Sanzen-in Temple: Autumn Foliage and Historical Guide (2025)

1. The Best Time for Autumn Colors (Typical)

Sanzen-in Temple, located in the Ohara area, sees its autumn leaves change color slightly earlier than in central Kyoto City.

• When Colors Start (Typical): Early November
• Peak Season (Typical):Mid-to-Late November
  • (Note: While weather conditions may cause slight shifts, November 25th falls right in the middle of this prime season.)
• Tree Species: Primarily Japanese Maple (Momiji)
• Recommended Viewpoints: The area around Ōjō Gokuraku-in Hall and the stunning contrast between the maples and the moss in the Yūsei-en Garden.

2. About the Maple Festival (Momiji Matsuri)

The “Maple Festival” is an event held to coincide with the peak autumn foliage season.

Item	Details
Dates (2025)	October 28 (Tue) – December 7 (Sun)
Main Events	Throughout the period: Public viewing of the Secret Image of Fudō Myō-ō (Golden Immovable King). Goma fire rituals are performed on Saturdays and Sundays. (Note: The Goma ritual will also be held on the opening day, October 28.)
Evening Illumination	None

3. Visiting Hours and Admission

During November’s peak autumn season, the viewing hours start slightly earlier than usual.

Item	Details
November Hours	8:45 AM – 4:45 PM (Gate closing) (Note: Hours are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM in October, and 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM from December to February.)
Admission Fee	Adults: ¥700 Junior/High School Students: ¥400 Elementary School Students: ¥150
Closed	Open daily

4. Access

• Location: 540 Raigōin-chō, Ōhara, Sakyō-ku, Kyoto
• Access (Bus):
  • Take the Kyoto Bus from JR Kyoto Station, Shijō Kawaramachi, Sanjō Keihan, etc.
  • Get off at the Ōhara Bus Stop, then walk for about 10 minutes.
• Parking: The temple does not have its own parking lot. You will need to use private paid parking near the approach road, but since the autumn season is extremely crowded, using public transportation is highly recommended.

⛩️ Sanzen-in Temple: History and Highlights

1. Founding and Imperial Ties

The history of Sanzen-in Temple stretches back approximately 1,200 years.

• Founder: Its origin lies in a hermitage built on Mt. Hiei around the end of the Nara and beginning of the Heian periods (around 804 AD) by the monk Saichō (Dengyō Daishi), the founder of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism.
• Monzeki Temple: Sanzen-in is a high-ranking “Monzeki Temple,” meaning its head priests were traditionally selected from the Imperial Family or the noble Regent families. Because of this special status, it was also known as the “Kajii Monzeki” or “Nashimoto Monzeki.”
• Origin of the Name: The name “Sanzen-in” (Three Thousand Halls) is said to derive from the Tendai Buddhist concept of “Ichinen Sanzen” (the idea that three thousand realms of existence are contained within a single moment of life).

2. Main Attractions: Two Gardens and a National Treasure

Sanzen-in is particularly famous for two beautiful gardens and its national treasure statue.

① Ōjō Gokuraku-in Hall (Pure Land Paradise Hall)

This is the oldest and most historically significant structure on the grounds.

• Construction: Believed to have been built around 985 AD and founded by the monk Eshin Sōzu Genshin, who promoted the concept of the Pure Land (Jōdo) paradise.
• Main Image: Inside is the National Treasure, the Amida Triad (three statues). The main statue is Amida Nyorai, flanked by the attendant deities, Kannon and Seishi Bodhisattvas.
  • This Triad depicts the “Raigō” (Descent), showing the deities coming down from paradise to welcome the souls of the deceased. A unique feature is that the two attendant Bodhisattvas are not sitting upright but are kneeling forward in the “Yamato-suwari” (Yamato sitting) pose, looking as if they are about to rise to greet the faithful.
  • To accommodate the size of these statues, the hall has a “funazoko tenjō” (boat-bottom ceiling), shaped like the underside of a ship.

② The Gardens (Shūheki-en and Yūsei-en)

• Shūheki-en Garden: This is a view-only strolling garden enjoyed from the main Guest Hall (Kyakuden). It was renovated by the Edo period tea master Kanamori Sōwa. It is recommended to sit and quietly admire the view during the fresh green or autumn seasons.
• Yūsei-en Garden: This is a stroll-style garden leading to the Ōjō Gokuraku-in Hall, famed for its impressive carpet of moss.
  • Scattered throughout this deep green moss are the adorable stone statues of “Warabe Jizō” (Child Jizō Bodhisattvas), which bring joy to visitors. In autumn, the contrast between the vibrant red maple leaves and the deep green moss creates the unique scenic beauty for which Sanzen-in is known.

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