Kodai-ji Temple in 1605 built the inconsolable woman who has lost her beloved husband - the commander and ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who is known for having united the fractured country's land under his command. His wife was named China-but-mandokoro, and then took the name Kodayin. When her life belonged to the temple of Soto sect of Zen, and after the death of the founder moved to the jurisdiction of the Rinzai school.

The temple is located in the Higashiyama district and is located near a Buddhist complex Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as from the Yasaka Pagoda (or Hokan-ji) - architectural monument of VI century and surrounded by residential buildings. Pagoda, whose age is more than a thousand years, - one of the most popular attractions of Kyoto, although it is a little off the main tourist routes.

Kodai-ji Temple is located on the slopes of Higashiyama. When its construction was used tiered layout, design of the building has fulfilled its time master Kobori Ensyu. The top tier is a tea house. At first he was in the castle of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and after the death of the ruler was moved to the temple. His arrangement of the master engaged in tea ceremonies and other rulers of Sen no Rikyu.

The middle tier is located the main buildings of the temple - the Chapel of honoring the founder of the temple, the abbot of the house, another tea house and garden and two ponds called "Lying Dragon" and "New Moon." After one of the ponds spanned by a covered bridge with a gazebo, where, according to legend, the widow of Hideyoshi admired the glow of the moon and its reflection in the mirror of the lake. The garden is preserved almost in its original form in which it was laid in the early XVII century.

Next to the church there is a large statue of Kannon-Rёndzan - the Japanese equivalent of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in the female form, the embodiment of compassion. In addition, at night in the temple include special lighting, garden and "paint" colorful spotlights.