In the early Heian period, Emperor Saga established Saga-in, an imperial villa in the Sagano area. In Jōgan 18 (876), the villa became Daikakuji Temple. The year 2026 marks the 1,150th anniversary of the temple’s founding.
To commemorate this milestone, a special exhibition will present outstanding treasures associated with Daikakuji. Visitors will have the opportunity to view precious temple treasures up close, including a reconstructed reproduction of the Imperially Sealed Heart Sutra in Emperor Saga’s Own Hand, transcribed by the Emperor himself; the Important Cultural Property Five Great Wisdom Kings, created by Myōen; and Pine Trees and Cranes, bestowed upon the temple by Emperor Go-Mizunoo.
The year 2026 also marks the 400th anniversary of the Kan’ei Gyoko (Imperial Visit by the Emperor). Another highlight is the Portrait of Sugawara no Michizane, painted by Imperial Prince Sonshō, who served as monzeki (an imperial or aristocratic priest heading a distinguished Buddhist temple) of Daikakuji during the Kan’ei era.
This exhibition offers a valuable opportunity to experience Daikakuji’s 1,150 years of history and its connections with Kan’ei Culture. We invite you to visit and discover these remarkable treasures for yourself.
| Exhibition Period | October 9 (Fri) – December 7 (Mon), 2026 Please note that the museum may temporarily close or rotate some exhibits during the exhibition period for the protection of cultural properties. |
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| Opening Hours | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.（Last admission at 4:30 p.m.） |
| Venue | Reihokan Museum, Daikakuji Temple (Former Saga Imperial Palace) 4 Saga Osawa-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8411 Kyoto City Bus Routes 28 and 91: A short walk from Daikakuji bus stop |
| Admission | ¥500 (elementary school students and older) A separate admission fee is required to visit the temple hall area. A separate admission fee is also required to visit the Osawa Pond area. |
