# Kōdai-ji, Japan: what it is and when to go > Kōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan (高台寺). Interests: History and Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kodai-ji/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan · History, Temples - **Local name:** 高台寺 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 81 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Mo-Su 09:00-17:30 - **Website:** [kodaiji.com](https://www.kodaiji.com/) - **Protection:** Protected heritage - **Coordinates:** 35.00032, 135.78135 ## What it is and where Kōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan (高台寺). It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Kyoto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kioto/), where this site lists 205 more places to see, 4.6 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 35.00032, 135.78135; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 81 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.000323%2C135.781354) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.000323%2C135.781354) - **Protection:** Protected heritage It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/) and [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Kōdai-ji is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 54 | | February | Best time | 10 h 44 | | March | Best time | 11 h 44 | | April | Best time | 12 h 53 | | May | Best time | 13 h 50 | | June | Possible | 14 h 20 | | July | Possible | 14 h 08 | | August | Possible | 13 h 19 | | September | Possible | 12 h 12 | | October | Best time | 11 h 06 | | November | Best time | 10 h 07 | | December | Possible | 9 h 39 | In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. | What you come for | Best time | Possible | | --- | --- | --- | | History | February to May and October to November | December to January and June to September | | Temples | February to May and October to November | December to January and June to September | It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Kōdai-ji has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Ryōzen Kannon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ryozen-kannon/): Shrine Kyōto-shi, Kyoto, Japan · 68 m - [Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-ryozen-gokoku-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan · 193 m - [Yasaka Pagoda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hokan-temple/): Pagoda in Kyōto, Japan · 270 m - [Yasaka Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yasaka-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan · 444 m - [The Gion House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/the-gion-house/): History · 553 m Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: History - [Mount Fuji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/monte-fuji/): volcano in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Himeji Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/himeji-2/): Japanese castle complex - [Hiroshima Peace Memorial](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/cupula-de-genbaku/): architectural structure - [Itsukushima Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/santuario-itsukushima/): Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan Every Japan place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Kōdai-ji? It is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan (高台寺 in the local language). It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Kōdai-ji? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. ### How do you get to Kōdai-ji? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 81 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.000323%2C135.781354) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Ryōzen Kannon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ryozen-kannon/), [Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-ryozen-gokoku-shrine/), [Yasaka Pagoda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hokan-temple/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/759391880), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2702064), CC0. More about Kōdai-ji on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E5%8F%B0%E5%AF%BA). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).