Tea Ceremony: One of Japan's Famous Traditional Cultures. While many may wish to experience it firsthand, some might find its numerous rituals daunting, making it difficult to enjoy casually.
Jikoin Temple(慈光院) is the perfect spot for those who want to enjoy tea casually while admiring the beautiful garden.
What is Jikoin Temple Like?
Jikoin Temple is a Zen Buddhist temple located in Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture.
Please check the map below for its exact location.
The nearest station, JR Yamato-Koizumi Station, can be reached in about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Kansai Airport, and approximately 30 minutes from Tennoji Station.
Jikoin Temple was founded in 1663 by Katagiri Sekishu(片桐石州), who was a feudal lord of Koizumi, to pay homage to his father, Sadataka(貞隆).
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| Wooden Statues of Katagiri Sekishu |
Sekishu was not only a feudal lord but also a master of tea ceremony, serving as the tea instructor to the 4th shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna(徳川家綱). The tea school he established, "Sekishu-ryu(石州流)," became the mainstream of the tea ceremony practiced by daimyo and feudal lords throughout the Edo period.
Jikoin Temple, built by the tea ceremony master Sekishu, is an exceptionally unique temple where the entire temple grounds are designed as a setting for tea ceremonies.
There is no other temple in Japan quite like Jikoin, where every corner of the premises is dedicated to creating an ambiance for tea gatherings.
Inside Jikoin Temple
Alright, let's now introduce you to the inside of Jikoin Temple.
This is the stone-paved approach leading to the grounds of Jikoin Temple.
At the end of this approach, there is a parking area, so those arriving by car can make use of it.
As you climb up the approach, you will see the "Ichinomon" (一之門:First Gate) ahead.
Once you pass through the Ichinomon, a stone-paved path surrounded by embankments and trees continues.
I visited in the morning, and it felt like a pleasant forest bathing experience along the approach. From this point, you can already sense the artistic touch of Sekishu's design.
Beyond the narrow path, you will find the main entrance gate of the temple called "Ibaraki Mon."
This gate was relocated from Ibaraki Castle, which is in present-day Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, where Sekishu was born. Originally, it had a tiled roof, but it has been re-thatched to evoke the image of a farmhouse gate.
The concept behind Sekishu's artistic direction at Jikoin is to create an atmosphere where visitors feel like they have stumbled upon a farmhouse estate nestled deep in a rural thicket. As guests wander through this rural landscape, the host welcomes and entertains them, all orchestrated by Sekishu himself.
By the way, the fact that the castle gate built in the late 16th century still remains is quite rare, and this gate is also a valuable cultural asset as a remnant of a castle structure.
As you pass through the Ibaraki Gate, you will see the temple office directly ahead.
If you are visiting, please enter this building first and complete the necessary procedures, such as paying the admission fee.
From the Ibaraki Mon, you can see the "Shoin (書院)" building with its thatched roof on the right side.
This Shoin building is designated as a national important cultural property by the government.
Currently, visitors are guided to the Shoin building after completing the necessary procedures at the office. However, in traditional tea ceremonies, visitors could also go directly from the Ibaraki Gate to the Shoin building.
After completing the reception, you will be guided to the drawing room of the Shoin building.
When people think of Japanese tea ceremonies, they may imagine something conducted in a small tearoom. However, the current mainstream style of tea ceremony originated from the "Wabi-cha" style, which became popular among wealthy merchants in the 15th century.
Originally, the Japanese tea ceremony began as a practice of the warrior class, where feudal lords and samurai would gather in drawing room to guess the origin of the tea leaves and enjoy showcasing their prized Chinese-made high-quality tea utensils.
As the Sekishu school follows the warrior-class tea ceremony tradition, the style of enjoying tea in spacious drawing room has been preserved.
From the eastern side of the hall, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the flatlands of Nara.
Furthermore, you can also appreciate the dry landscape garden (kare-sansui :枯山水) in the temple grounds.
Beyond the garden, you can also see the thatched roof of the Ibaraki Gate.
It's a landscape that harmonizes with the garden and exudes the beauty of "Wabi (侘び)," a distinctive Japanese aesthetic sensibility that appreciates the charm and beauty of things aged and weathered through long use and natural degradation.
It's akin to the appreciation of vintage jeans that are torn, wrinkled, and discolored over time, giving them a cool and appealing sense of beauty.
Now, the pleasure of Jikoin lies in receiving hospitality while gazing at this garden. After being escorted to the main hall, you will be served with sweets and matcha tea.
First, let's enjoy the sweets and then have matcha tea.
It's a tranquil moment while gazing at the garden.
As you savor the matcha tea, time will pass luxuriously.
Once you have enjoyed the view of the garden and the matcha tea from the drawing room, let's take a stroll inside the temple.
Although the Sekishu school follows the warrior-class tea ceremony tradition, it also inherits the style of "Wabi-cha," and there are two small tea rooms.
One of them is known as "Kourin-An(高林庵)."
This tea room, believed to be one of Sekishu's favorites, is designated as a national important cultural property by the government.
This is the other tea room called "Kan-An(閑庵)."
This tea room is also designated as a national important cultural property by the government.
In the main hall of the temple, there are not only the main Buddha statue but also wooden statues of Katagiri Sekishu and the first head priest.
By the way, the wooden statue of Katagiri Sekishu is on the left side in the photo.
On the ceiling of the main hall, there is a large painting of a dragon.
It is said that no matter where you stand in the room, the dragon's eyes and gaze will meet yours.
You can also enter the garden.
The impressive large thatched roof of the Shoin building is visible from the garden.
Originally, this style of thatched roof, commonly found in farmhouse architecture, is rarely used in temple buildings, with Jikoin being one of the few exceptions.
It was designed in this way to create an ambiance where the host welcomes guests in a farmhouse setting, as part of Sekishu's artistic direction.
Though it is a small garden, it is designed in a stroll-style, so let's take a leisurely walk around and enjoy it fully!
It is a delightful garden where the scenery changes depending on the viewing angle.
Directions to Jikoin Temple
To get to Jikoin Temple, it takes about a 15-minute walk from the west exit of JR Yamato-Koizumi Station, which is the nearest station.
As shown on the map above, it is recommended to walk along the street in the castle town of Koizumi, which was built by Sekishu, to reach Jikoin Temple.
This is a street lamp that is installed at the entrance of the town.
These stone structures, dating back to before the Edo period, are almost always seen at the entrances and exits of towns that ancient roads in Nara Prefecture pass through.
Along the road, you can still find a few old buildings dating back to before the Edo period.
On the way to Jikoin Temple, there is another temple called "Konrinin(金輪院)," which was built during the Edo period.
This is a temple of "Koshin" faith, which gathers various ancient Japanese folk beliefs, including Buddhism and Taoism.
In "Koshin faith," monkeys are considered symbolic animals, and you can find cute monkey-themed tiles and decorations in various parts of the temple buildings.
It's fun to look for monkeys throughout the temple grounds.
Information about Jikoin Temple
■Address:865koizumi-chou Yamatokoriyama-city Nara pref, JAPAN
■Phone Number: 0743-53-3004
■Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Open every day throughout the year)
!! No smoking allowed throughout the premises !!
■Admission Fee: 1000 yen (Includes Matcha tea and a sweet)
■Official Website
■Instagram
■Parking Available
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