Daikakuji: Kyoto's Best Kept Secret

I didn't know what to expect when I visited Daikaku-ji Temple. It truly amazed me. The temple grounds stretch out wide, with all the buildings connected by a great (but well marked) maze of gorgeous wooden corridors. There are gardens to look at, bright red lacquered sections of walkway that are as smooth as silk, and off in the distance a pagoda and centuries-old man made lake filled with lotus. And beyond that, there is even a bamboo grove. The temple is also host to the Saga Goryū school of Ikebana, so there is really a lot to enjoy. I stayed for two hours, and left feeling excited and refreshed.