Ikka-in Four Guardians Gardens (Tofuku-ji)
This season's opening
Ikka-in autumn viewing (Tofuku-ji)
- Hours
- 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:45); only on 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29 November
- Admission
- ¥500 (ages 6–15 ¥300). Tea option ¥1,500 including matcha, a seasonal sweet and admission
- Booking
- No bookingGroups must book
The normally closed sub-temple's Four Guardians gardens, one on each side; the south, west and north gardens are by Shigemori Chisao
Only seven weekend and holiday days. Tentoku-in nearby stays open until 20:00 the same weeks, so do Ikka-in by day and Tentoku-in's lights at dusk.
About the garden
A Tofuku-ji sub-temple with a garden on each side, each standing for the guardian beast of its direction: dragon, phoenix, tiger and tortoise. Three of them are by the contemporary designer Shigemori Chisao. Black pines become a dragon and a spreading bird, and stones tell a Chinese fable of a tiger ferrying her cubs. It opens on just seven autumn days.
Where to stand
Go round the four gardens one by one and find each guardian. To the east, the Blue Dragon is simply the tall black pine. In the south, the Vermilion Bird garden, the pine on the moss throws its branches wide like a bird opening its wings. The west garden, the White Tiger, retells the fable of a tiger carrying her cubs across a river. In the north, the Black Tortoise garden, the rock island in front is the tortoise. When you have seen all four, agree on the one you want to sit in front of again.
Practical notes
Ikka-in is normally closed; in autumn 2026 it opens only on 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29 November, 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:45), for ¥500. A ¥1,500 tea option includes matcha, a seasonal sweet and admission. Tentoku-in nearby is open the same weeks until 20:00, so see Ikka-in by day and Tentoku-in's lights at dusk.
Tea and food nearby
Small places within walking distance. Check their opening days against the garden's.
- 5 min walkfrom Tentoku-in Garden (Tofuku-ji)☕ CafePan to Coffee to Hirarinto (cafe)
An old house two minutes from Tofukuji Station where you take your shoes off at the door. It opens at 7:00, so you can have breakfast here before the sub-temples open.
Order：Bread and coffee, as the name says; soba is also served
- 10 min walkfrom Sokushu-in Garden (Tofuku-ji)☕ CafeChikujoso (house cafe)
A house cafe in the residential streets south of Tofuku-ji. You sit on tatami looking at a small garden of its own, a quiet place to talk over the gardens you have just seen.
Order：Japanese sweets and tea; there is sake too
- 10 min walk☕ CafeROOT2 COFFEE
A small coffee shop in a renovated townhouse right outside Tofukuji Station. It stays open until 20:00 and serves wine, handy before the train home.
Order：Coffee, or a glass of wine later in the day