Kitain
Kitain
4.1
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:15 PM
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4.1
341 reviews
Excellent
88
Very good
186
Average
66
Poor
1
Terrible
0
M A R
Los Angeles, CA115 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
I love to travel and I really, really love to travel to off the beaten path places!!!!
I came to Kawagoe to check out Candy Alley, the Bell Tower and Kita-in Temple.
Kita-in has beautiful architecture and they allow you to enter part of the temple complex where you can see beautiful gardens you would not be able to see otherwise. There's also the 500+ statuettes of Rakan or disciples of Buddha. Each one is unique!!!! If you look carefully you will find some of them have animals which are represented in the Asian zodiac like the dragon or ox, for example. Mine is the rooster and I found the Rakan with the rooster!!!! There is also a cool gift shop and food stands.I got to try rice balls on a stick which were tasty. I don't know what they are called in Japanese though.
What can I do without at Kita-in?
Nothing.
What stands out at Kita-in?
The 500 + statuettes of the Rakan and the interior gardens!!!!
5 stars!!!! Kita-in is really, really ridiculously great!!!!
I came to Kawagoe to check out Candy Alley, the Bell Tower and Kita-in Temple.
Kita-in has beautiful architecture and they allow you to enter part of the temple complex where you can see beautiful gardens you would not be able to see otherwise. There's also the 500+ statuettes of Rakan or disciples of Buddha. Each one is unique!!!! If you look carefully you will find some of them have animals which are represented in the Asian zodiac like the dragon or ox, for example. Mine is the rooster and I found the Rakan with the rooster!!!! There is also a cool gift shop and food stands.I got to try rice balls on a stick which were tasty. I don't know what they are called in Japanese though.
What can I do without at Kita-in?
Nothing.
What stands out at Kita-in?
The 500 + statuettes of the Rakan and the interior gardens!!!!
5 stars!!!! Kita-in is really, really ridiculously great!!!!
Written 9 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hfot2 🌸🍁🌸
Vermont7,762 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
Kawagoe was a worthwhile day trip from Tokyo and we found Kitain to be far more interesting than the other sites in Kawagoe.
Kitain has rooms transferred from Edo Castle which we found it quite interesting. The entrance to this part of the compound is beside the temple hall on the right as you are facing the temple. Photography is not permitted for interior shots, but the ticket seller assured us we could take photos of the outside. Before entering the castle section, you remove your shoes and place them in an individual shoe locker with a wooden key, similar to the lockers found in some izakayas.
The interiors from the castle include the room where the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, is said to have been born and it is the only surviving scrap of the original Edo Castle surviving anywhere in Japan due to the earthquake in Tokyo in 1923 (though we later read that the Imperial Palace contains some scraps of watchtowers and whatnot). Evidently the original temple in Kawagoe burnt to the ground, and the shogun gave these rooms from the Edo palace, which were dismantled, shipped, and reassembled here. The villa is not unlike many we’ve seen elsewhere, even the birth room. The gardens were very nice but their color had largely gone by when we visited on December 12. The vermillion bridge was very photogenic. If it weren’t for the Edo palace rooms, the temple alone for us wouldn’t be worth the entry fee of ¥400. You do gain access to the main hall of the temple by way of the castle rooms and you have a closer view of the interior of the hall and can actually stand underneath the very intricate golden hanging canopy in front of the altar.
Your entry ticket also includes entry to the site of the 500 Rakans, statues of Buddha’s disciples - actually there are 540/ or 538 depending on your source. You have to go across the road to the souvenir shop near the pagoda to gain entry. A grounds' keeper, who was amazingly well versed in the history of the place and had good English, came over and talked to us and explained the significance of several of the statues and asked after our (Japanese/Chinese) zodiac sign and encouraged us to find it in the statues. Every statue has a different pose and different facial expression. Some were grouped together as if in conversation, very cleverly sculpted. There is an interesting story about walking amongst the statues at night and finding a statue that feels warm - if you return in the daylight that statue is the one who looks most like you - or so they say!
There is a little hill to the south of the main hall with an ancient building atop and a lot of late koyo. It was quite delightful and was some of the best koyo we saw on this the last week of our 6 week koyo trip.
Kitain has rooms transferred from Edo Castle which we found it quite interesting. The entrance to this part of the compound is beside the temple hall on the right as you are facing the temple. Photography is not permitted for interior shots, but the ticket seller assured us we could take photos of the outside. Before entering the castle section, you remove your shoes and place them in an individual shoe locker with a wooden key, similar to the lockers found in some izakayas.
The interiors from the castle include the room where the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, is said to have been born and it is the only surviving scrap of the original Edo Castle surviving anywhere in Japan due to the earthquake in Tokyo in 1923 (though we later read that the Imperial Palace contains some scraps of watchtowers and whatnot). Evidently the original temple in Kawagoe burnt to the ground, and the shogun gave these rooms from the Edo palace, which were dismantled, shipped, and reassembled here. The villa is not unlike many we’ve seen elsewhere, even the birth room. The gardens were very nice but their color had largely gone by when we visited on December 12. The vermillion bridge was very photogenic. If it weren’t for the Edo palace rooms, the temple alone for us wouldn’t be worth the entry fee of ¥400. You do gain access to the main hall of the temple by way of the castle rooms and you have a closer view of the interior of the hall and can actually stand underneath the very intricate golden hanging canopy in front of the altar.
Your entry ticket also includes entry to the site of the 500 Rakans, statues of Buddha’s disciples - actually there are 540/ or 538 depending on your source. You have to go across the road to the souvenir shop near the pagoda to gain entry. A grounds' keeper, who was amazingly well versed in the history of the place and had good English, came over and talked to us and explained the significance of several of the statues and asked after our (Japanese/Chinese) zodiac sign and encouraged us to find it in the statues. Every statue has a different pose and different facial expression. Some were grouped together as if in conversation, very cleverly sculpted. There is an interesting story about walking amongst the statues at night and finding a statue that feels warm - if you return in the daylight that statue is the one who looks most like you - or so they say!
There is a little hill to the south of the main hall with an ancient building atop and a lot of late koyo. It was quite delightful and was some of the best koyo we saw on this the last week of our 6 week koyo trip.
Written 21 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
unescotravelbug
Wooster, OH4,718 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
City of Kawagoe a.k.a Little Edo was once an important commodity resource and business trades to Edo (today's Tokyo) during the Edo period. The city avoided severe damages after the air raid bombings by WWW II western allies that mainly aimed at large area of Tokyo. Today's Kawagoe is a city full of modern conveniences and nostalgia atmosphere of an old town ambiance. After you exit Hon-Kawagoe Station you will find Tobu's Co-edo loop bus stop no. 2 located outside of the station serving the routes to the Old Town of Kawagoe include stop to Kitain Temple. Kitain Temple owns a few original Edo Castle palace buildings that were removed from the Castle of Edo (today’s Tokyo) to replace the burned down structures of original Kitain property. And since Tokyo was mostly destroyed by the air raids during WWII allies’ bombings Kitain Temple becomes one of the important national treasures bearing historical significance of holding the only remains of Edo Castle. It was told that third Shogun Tokugawa Lemitsu was born in one of the rooms in Kitain Temple. The large roofed main hall is the center place for the worship. But a few other structures are not accessible to the public. Admission charged.
Written 26 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John L
Kamakura Japan80 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
Kitain is one of the best Japanese gardens in Saitama, although the garden is rather hidden behind the temple with poor signage to get to it. Persevere! Kita-in has been listed in "Hidden Gardens of Japan" - THE photo essay and reference for finding unspoiled gardens in Japan (minus the tour bus crowds) available on Amazon US and Amazon Japan.
Written 6 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas M
Minneapolis, MN84 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
I spent an enjoyable Saturday in Kawagoe with a Japanese friend. Kitain was a highlight of the day. Kitain was one of my favorite temples to visit. The buildings and grounds are lovely, and the history is interesting. I agree with some of the other commentators that it is sad that pictures are not allowed. I found it helpful to visit with someone who knows Japanese.
Written 17 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kumiko
Yokosuka, Japan993 contributions
July 2018 • Solo
When I decided to visit Kawagoe, One of my first stops was Kitain, Head temple of the Tendai Sect for Kanto Region. The temple complex is very beautiful, with a very nice two-story pagoda, stunning garden, and 500 statues of Buddha’s followers created between the 18th and 19th century. Admission to the temple also gives you admission to the statues. You also be given information about the temple in English. Of course, it is well worth getting a goshuin (temple seal). The main hall was part of the original Edo Castle. You can easily see everything in a couple of hours, it is worth combining with nearby Naritasan Betsuin.
Written 3 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kissane
Perth, Australia932 contributions
July 2017 • Solo
This castle is one of several interesting traditional attractions in this lovely little city, just north of Tokyo. I recommend visiting the city (and the castle) if you would like to escape the metropolis for a day (or half a day), although you will be accompanied by many Japanese people as well, enjoying the architecture and feel of an old Japanese town. Easily reached from Shinjuku station (via Ikebukoro) for a fare of about 760 yen (when I visited), about 45 minutes travelling.
Written 27 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin Y
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia53 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Though not the main shrine in the city, but it seemed to be a long and important history tied to it. When i went there, none of the food stalls in front of it were open, nor the sakura bloomed, so it was not at its prime. If you're willing to pay a small fee, you can walk into the buildings and visit the inner garden too
Written 3 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ART196
244 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
In 830 the Tendai monk Ennin founded Muryōji 無量寺, the Temple of Unending Life, and it was divided into three sub-temples: Kita’in 北院, Naka’in 中院, Minami’in 南院. By 1300 the temple was the most important within the Tendai sect. Under the charismatic monk Tenkai, friend and adviser to three Tokugawa Shōguns, Kita’in became the most important of the three sub-temples, replacing Naka’in as the center of the temple in the Early Edo Period. The characters were changed to 喜多院 at this time. Naka’in still exists and is worth visiting, but the southern temple is now lost. Kita’in also contains original palatial buildings from Edo Castle. The only such buildings to survive from Edojō from this period, when Kita’in suffered a fire in 1638 Tokugawa Iemitsu donated to the temple the writing hall and reception hall from his own palace. These include rooms that were the dressing room of Lady Kasuga and the room where Tokugawa Iemitsu is thought to have been born, which has an intricately painted ceiling – the first thing Iemitsu ever saw I suppose! – and fabulous armour sets on display (photos here were unfortunately prohibited). Other temple buildings: main hall, sub hall, Tahōtō pagoda, shōrō bell tower; and statues of 500 rakan (arhats).
Written 13 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris H
Bayville, NJ425 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
We went here on our last day of our trip because we needed some time to kill before heading back to Narita. There is a fair amount of history behind this temple, so it looked appealing. It was about a 15-20 minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe station through the town, but it wasn't hard to find since there are signs to point you in the right direction. The temple itself, and the surrounding area is pretty nice, but it was very crowded. Make sure you walk around all of the areas of the temple, even though they're divided up now (Nakain and Minamiin are both a short walk from Kitain). I'm not sure if it's always like this, but there were tons of people there, with multiple food vendors all set up with tents. If you go and the food vendors are there, make sure you eat the local food...I can't complain about anything that I had there.
Written 10 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2jpm93
Minato, Japan
今東上線の中で書いています。先ほど観光用の自転車で喜多院へ行きました。
チンピラのような人に「自転車を押して」の看板をみ落としてしまっただけで、境内から「おいこらジジイ!そこのババアもだ!自転車おりろバカ!」と大声で思い切り罵倒されたのですが、喜多院はわざわざそんな人を雇っているのですか?
1日の楽しかった気分が吹っ飛びました。
アジサイか何かの世話をしている人でしょうが、冗談じゃない!!!
私はもう二度と行きませんし、知人にも所属している旅行会にも全てに川越を勧めません!
以上、苦情です!
Written 19 July 2016
東南アジア系の観光客のマナ－の悪さは世界的に定評がありますが、私も旅行が好きで各地を車や電車で旅をしていて、中国人ほどではなくとも日本人でも「今時の若い者は・・・・」という世代の御仁のマナ－の悪さは目につきます。旅の恥はかき捨てなどといわず、逆にマナ－をわきまえない若人の手本にならなければいけないのではないかと思います。自分のマナ－の悪さを棚に上げて、キレルのは大人げない。すみませんと一言言っていたら注意した人も自分たちももう少し後味の悪い思いをしなくても良かったと思うのですが。自分勝手な人には、川越に限らず観光地には脚を運んでもらわなくてもよい。良識ある観光客にも迷惑がかかるのでは。川越は若い人もご高齢の方たちも観光客にはとても親切な印象を持っていますし、年に一度は必ず訪れるところです。小江戸川越、訪れたことのない人はぜひ行ってください。ただし、是非良識も旅のお供に。
Written 20 July 2016
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