Daigo-ji is a vast UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist temple complex in southeastern Kyoto, founded in 874 AD. Its five-storey pagoda, Kyoto's oldest standing structure, frames magnificently against crimson and gold maples each November, creating one of the city's most photographed autumn scenes. The temple's three distinct zones—Shimo Daigo, Kami Daigo, and the Sanbō-in garden—offer varied autumn scenery across different elevations. The Sanbō-in garden, designed for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's famous hanami party, is particularly spectacular with its maples reflected in still ponds.
- Type
- Venue
- Category
- Autumn Leaves
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Mid to Late November
- Region
- Kansai
- Prefecture
- Kyoto
- City
- Kyoto
Highlights
- ◆Kyoto's oldest five-storey pagoda framed by autumn maples
- ◆UNESCO World Heritage site spanning three elevation zones
- ◆Sanbō-in garden designed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- ◆Walking trail to upper Kami Daigo through forested foliage
- ◆Autumn colour typically lasts two to three weeks