Kouetsuji Temple

Kouetsuji Temple（光悦寺） is said to have originated when Ieyasu Tokugawa gave Hon’ami Kouetsu the land in Takagamine.Hon’ami Koetsu gathered craftsmen and turned it into a crafts village. Later, Priest Nichiji of Honpouji Temple established the temple as Koetsuji Temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism.

Hon’ami Koetsu was a calligrapher and artist of the early Edo period. He was a multi-artist who was also involved in ceramics, lacquer art, publishing, and the tea ceremony.

Koetsuji Temple has a garden composed of tea rooms. In the garden, there is the famous Koetsu-gaki, which creates an exquisite contrast during the season of autumn leaves.

Access from Kyoto Station to Koetsuji Temple takes about 37 minutes by bus (not including transfer time).