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Toji Temple (東寺) is a 15 minute walk from Kyoto Station. On the approach to the temple slowly but surely vendors start appearing on the sidewalk and you know you are on the right way.

The activity explodes the moment you step through one of the temple’s gates. Some 1200 vendors sell everything from 500 year old Korean pottery and Imperial Army uniforms, to frozen cucumber snacks and Lotus Flowers.

In between you find a fascinating selection of kimono, yukata, underwear, modern arts and crafts, Showa era magazines and just about anything you can, and cannot, imagine.

Akira Kurosawa

This Buddhist temple once stood alongside the Rashomon gate, made famous by legendary Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa, who based it on stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

The temple was founded 12 centuries ago, and is almost as old as the old capital itself. For quite a while it was run by Kobo Daishi, also known as Kukai, founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism and undoubtedly one of Japan’s most celebrated Buddhist scholars.

Holy Days

The temple’s principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha. On the 21st of the month, no less than 300,000 pilgrims come here to pray for good health. Long lines of people covering themselves with smoke of incense before praying in front of an endless series of age old paintings.

Such huge crowds naturally attract people with things to sell, and for many hundreds of years this sacred day has become market day. The most interesting of these markets take place in December and January, the last and first ones of the year.

There is also a smaller market at Toji that takes place on the first Sunday of each month.

Beauty

Toji’s beautiful architecture, its pagoda surrounded by a traditional Japanese garden, and its moat filled with Lotus Flowers, turtles and carps, adds a fairytale atmosphere to the market.

You can escape the crowds for a leisurely stroll in the garden, or a short break watching the flowers and the turtles. You are also bound to run into a procession of Buddhist priests clad in ochre robes, or observe a priest performing prayers at one of the many sub temples, just steps away from the never ending bustle of the market.

Antiques

Even Lotus Flowers are for sale

Boro textiles, traditionally worn by peasants

A Buddhist service, just a few steps away from the bustling crowds

Cheaply priced obi

You can find just about anything

O-den

Boy and girl Kewpie dolls

Lotus Flowers

Prayer cards

Handmade rabbit

Obi

Flag at stall selling crushed ice

Cutie Pie

Mountains of kimono and yukata to choose from

Obi

Antique dols

Buddhist image on the bottom of a bowl

16th century pottery from North Korea

Box full of figures

Yukata

Textile

Priests on parade

Toji’s famed five storied pagoda

Dragonfly

Purification by smoke

An enormous variety of food items are on offer

When: 21st of the month (smaller market on first Sunday)
Time: 07:00~16:00
Where: Toji Temple, Kyoto