Buddhist temple
Daikaku-ji
大覚寺（だいかくじ）
Ukyō, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
The head temple of the Daikaku-ji school of Shingon Buddhism, called the former Saga Imperial Palace because it began as a detached palace of Emperor Saga. In the main hall, the Godaidō, the Five Great Myōō centered on Fudō Myōō are enshrined, overlooking Ōsawa Pond.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal images: the Five Great Myōō (centered on Fudō Myōō)
History and things to know
According to the temple's tradition, its predecessor was Saga-in, a detached palace built by Emperor Saga, and in Jōgan 18 (876) it became Daikaku-ji with Prince-Priest 恒寂 as its founding abbot. Until the beginning of the Meiji period, emperors and members of the imperial line served as its abbots, and Cloistered Emperor Go-Uda, who worked to restore it, is regarded as the father of its revival. Its halls were lost in wars and fires, and in the Kan'ei era of the Edo period the temple took on almost its present appearance.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
The official website has a notice that visits to Daikaku-ji and Ōsawa Pond are temporarily suspended, so you need to check the latest information before visiting.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 大覚寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-21 確認）
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