Daigo-ji Temple In Kyoto
About the Daigo-ji Camera
Daigo-ji is a Shingon temple complex in the Fushimi hills on the south-eastern edge of Kyoto, founded in 874. It is large and spread out, running from the lower Shimo-Daigo precinct up the mountainside to Kami-Daigo, and it was inscribed by UNESCO in 1994 among the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Its five-storey pagoda was completed in 951 and is the oldest surviving building in Kyoto. It came through the wars and fires that destroyed most of the city's medieval architecture, which is why it matters out of proportion to its size.
The temple is also tied to one of the most famous parties in Japanese history. In 1598 Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a vast cherry blossom viewing here, remembered as the Daigo no Hanami, months before his death. The grounds are still known for blossom, and this camera is the way to judge how busy they are.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: crowd levels in blossom season, the pagoda and lower precinct, autumn colour in the hills
- •Nearby: Sanboin garden, Kami-Daigo on the mountain, Zuishin-in, Fushimi
- •Note: a UNESCO World Heritage site; the pagoda of 951 is Kyoto's oldest building
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Daigo-ji camera live?
Yes. It streams continuously.
What is the oldest part of the temple?
The five-storey pagoda, completed in 951, which is the oldest surviving building anywhere in Kyoto.
Is it a World Heritage site?
Yes, inscribed in 1994 as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
What is the Daigo no Hanami?
The enormous cherry blossom party Toyotomi Hideyoshi held at this temple in 1598, shortly before his death.
