I visited this temple about ten years ago in the winter season, but seeing it in autumn was very different. The prettiest autumn colors I've seen this year were here. It is a 15 minute walk from Kyoto Station and is open from 8 am to 5 pm every day. The usual admission fee is 500 yen, but the day I was there the fee was 800 yen because the first floor of the pagoda was open for viewing. Toji Temple is one of Kyoto's many UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Group photo of the Japanese pilgrims.
I'm always surprised to see these little water buckets at ancient wooden buildings. How much fire could they put out?
The five story pagoda was erected in 826. It stands 57 meters tall and is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan. The ground floor was open the day I was there. It houses four Buddha statues. Photos inside were not allowed.
When I was here before the pagoda was not open. This is what the open door looks like.
It's not yet winter, but spring is already coming.
