Toji, ‘the East Temple’, was founded in 796 when Kyoto became the capital and given to the great monk Kukai, who made it a centre of esoteric Shingon Buddhism. Its five-story pagoda, rebuilt in 1644, rises 55 metres and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan, a landmark visible from the shinkansen and an emblem of the city. Inside its Lecture Hall stands a three-dimensional mandala of twenty-one carved deities arranged by Kukai himself. A World Heritage Site close to Kyoto Station, it is also the setting for Kobo-san, a vast and atmospheric flea market held on the 21st of every month.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Minami, Kyoto |
| Hours | ~8:00–17:00 (grounds); halls vary |
| Admission | Grounds free; halls ~¥500 |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | 21st of the month for the market |
What to See
- The 55 m five-story pagoda, Japan’s tallest.
- The three-dimensional mandala of carved deities.
- The World Heritage temple founded in 796.
- The huge Kobo-san flea market on the 21st.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Kyoto Station, a short walk away.
- Pair with Kyoto Tower by the station.
- Read our Kyoto overview .
Getting There
- By train: Toji Station (Kintetsu) or a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station.
- On foot: easily reached southwest of Kyoto Station.
Tips
Time your visit for the 21st of the month if you can, when the Kobo-san market fills the grounds with hundreds of stalls of antiques, crafts, plants and food — one of the two great monthly markets in Kyoto. On ordinary days the grounds are free to wander and the pagoda can be admired from outside; pay only if you want to enter the halls and see the mandala of statues.
