Giouji
京都府
Sagano hermitage where shirabyoshi dancer Gio from The Tale of the Heike retreated, carpeted by 30 varieties of moss
Founded
1895
Type
Temple
Visited
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Access
About 25 min walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station or Randen Arashiyama Station, or 15 min walk from Saga-Shakado-mae bus stop
32 Saga Toriimoto Osaka-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
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Overview
Giouji is a Shingon Daikakuji-ha nunnery revived in 1895 on the site of Ojoin, founded by Ryochin, a disciple of Honen; it is an outer sub-temple of Daikakuji. It is the setting of the tale of tragic love from The Tale of the Heike: the shirabyoshi dancer Gio, who lost the affections of Taira no Kiyomori and took the tonsure, retreated here with her mother and sister. The moss garden, carpeted by …
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Origins
The site of Giouji is traditionally said to have been the location of Ojoin, a temple founded by Ryochin, a disciple of Honen, the founder of the Jodo sect, sometime in the late Heian to early Kamakura period. Ojoin subsequently fell into decline and is believed to have lain abandoned for many centu…
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Pilgrimage Courses
Kyoto Arashiyama Walk
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Divine Benefits
Warding Off Evil
Purification
Career Advancement
Averting disaster, directional protection, warding off epidemics. Central at Fudo, Kannon, and Gion-related sites.
Derived from the enshrined deity "大日如来"
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Visiting Information
Hours
Visiting hours 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30).
Admission
Adults 500, students 100. Combined ticket with Daikaku-ji: 1,000.
As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.
Official Links
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