Seikenji Temple — Attraction in Kyoto

The temple is not on the tourist circuit and has a quiet, attractive garden. I visited some years ago and was walking by in Autumn 2023, so decided to visit it again.

The entry system was confusing this time. The sign in English said to “open the gate” but the gate was already open! A bamboo stick was in front of it. The presence of this bamboo means “no entry” in Japan. I concluded the temple was not actually open. I was about two leave when two Japanese women, who were also confused by the sign, decided to enter via another gate. I followed them!

Suddenly, the priest came along and, seeing me first, stated in a slightly aggressive voice that I had entered “private property”. He then spotted the Japanese women and spoke to them quite rudely (I speak Japanese). They were saying they assumed there was no entry at the first gate because of the bamboo stick. He became very sarcastic and said that obviously they should know that “open the gate” referred to lifting up the bamboo stick as "gate" means "bamboo gate" all over Japan! Well, obviously not if the signs in English and in Japanese were confusing.

That encounter meant that I did not enjoy my visit as much as I had done six or seven years before. As I left, a young Japanese couple was looking at the sign and then they walked away without entering. Two more people who were confused by what “open” an already open gate that was blocked by bamboo meant!

I get that it is not a tourist temple and they don’t want people wandering past private areas. So, either change the signs in Japanese and English to read “lift up the bamboo and enter” or remove the bamboo! Or, if you are annoyed by visitors and don’t want their entry fee, don’t allow them to enter at all.

Perhaps the priest needs to meditate a...

20/6/6...

Lovely temple, very peaceful. Also the residing monk is very kind and wise. They have a zazen zen...