How a visit to Daitoku-ji works
Daitoku-ji is not a single temple you walk through with one ticket. It is a large precinct of subtemples, and each of them decides for itself whether it is open, when and for how much. Your visit to Daitoku-ji temple in Kyoto is therefore a choice: you pick one or two subtemples, check their hours and walk between them along the lanes of the precinct.
That also means there is no single answer to "is Daitoku-ji open today". Some subtemples open daily, others may open only on special occasions, and Koto-in is closed to visitors throughout 2026. Plan with the individual subtemples below, not with the precinct as a whole.
Subtemples you can visit in 2026
Hours and fees for the subtemples with regular opening. Other subtemples may open only for special viewings, so check before you count on them.
| Subtemple | Hours | Adults | Pupils | Matcha | Zazen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daisen-in | Usually 9:00 to 16:30, check the calendar | ¥500 | ¥300 | ¥500 | Sat, Sun and the 24th, 16:30 to 17:45, ¥1,500 plus entry |
| Zuiho-in | 9:00 to 17:00, no regular closing days | ¥400 | ¥300 | ¥500 | With visit and matcha ¥2,000, ask ahead |
| Ryogen-in | Check at the gate | – | – | – | – |
| Koto-in | Closed in 2026 | – | – | – | – |
Pupils means elementary and junior high school students. For most first-time visitors, Daisen-in plus Zuiho-in is a workable pairing: both have regular hours, both serve matcha and both offer zazen. A good order is the Golden Pavilion in the morning and Daitoku-ji in the afternoon. If you want a guide for that first part, compare the Kinkaku-ji guided tours.
Kinkaku-ji tours to start your northwest Kyoto day
Guided walks at the Golden Pavilion, several with admission included, that leave time for the subtemples of Daitoku-ji. Live prices and availability.
Daisen-in: matcha and zazen
Daisen-in opens daily, generally from 9:00 to 16:30. Admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students, and a bowl of matcha costs ¥500. The temple publishes a calendar with shortened hours on some days, so look at it before you go.
Daisen-in holds zazen, seated Zen meditation, on Saturdays, Sundays and on the 24th of each month from 16:30 to 17:45. It costs ¥1,500 plus admission and includes an introduction in English. Booking ahead is recommended; joining on the spot depends on space. Because the session starts as the regular visiting hours end, it fits well after a day at Kinkaku-ji, which keeps regular hours of 9:00 to 17:00.
Zuiho-in
Zuiho-in is open from 9:00 to 17:00 with no regular closing days. Admission is ¥400 for adults and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students, and matcha costs ¥500. That makes it the subtemple with the longest regular hours of the ones listed here, which helps if you arrive in the late afternoon.
Zuiho-in also offers zazen including the visit and matcha for ¥2,000. There is no fixed weekly schedule you can rely on, so contact the temple in advance rather than turning up and hoping to join.
Ryogen-in
Ryogen-in is one of the subtemples with historic buildings. Opening hours and fees can change, so check them at the gate or with the temple on the day you visit.
Koto-in in 2026
Koto-in has suspended visits for 2026, and no date for reopening has been set. Do not build your day around Koto-in until the temple announces a reopening.
If Koto-in was the reason you wanted to come, Daisen-in and Zuiho-in are the practical alternatives within the precinct. For more temples across the city, the guide to temples in Kyoto gives an overview.
Getting to Daitoku-ji and combining it with Kinkaku-ji
The seasonal city bus 109 stops at Daitokuji-mae between Kitaoji and Kinkakuji-michi.
Getting around
Plan the way between Kinkaku-ji and Daitoku-ji with the city's route planner. Details for the Golden Pavilion are on our getting there page.
City bus fares
A regular city bus ride costs a flat ¥230 for adults and ¥120 for children.
Seasonal bus 109
On November 21 to 23 and 28 to 29, 2026, the seasonal bus 109 runs Kitaoji, Daitokuji-mae, Kinkakuji-michi, Ryoanji-mae, Omuro Ninnaji and Arashiyama, about hourly from 8:00 to 16:00. It does not run on other days.
Suggested order
Kinkaku-ji when it opens at 9:00, lunch, then Daitoku-ji in the afternoon. On a Saturday, Sunday or the 24th, end with zazen at Daisen-in at 16:30.
Daitoku-ji: frequently asked questions
Is Daitoku-ji free to visit?
Each subtemple charges its own admission. As of 2026, Daisen-in costs ¥500 for adults and Zuiho-in ¥400. Check each subtemple's hours before you go.
Is Koto-in open?
No. Koto-in has suspended visits for 2026, and no reopening date has been set.
Can I try zazen at Daitoku-ji?
Yes. Daisen-in holds zazen on Saturdays, Sundays and the 24th from 16:30 to 17:45 for ¥1,500 plus admission, with an English introduction. Book ahead. Zuiho-in offers zazen with matcha for ¥2,000 by arrangement.
Can I have matcha at Daitoku-ji?
Yes. Daisen-in and Zuiho-in both serve matcha for ¥500 as of 2026.
Can I visit Daitoku-ji and Kinkaku-ji on the same day?
Yes. See Kinkaku-ji from 9:00 and go to Daitoku-ji in the afternoon. Check Daisen-in's calendar, as some days close earlier.