The temple of kodai-JI temple in 1605 built a grieving woman who lost her beloved husband, the commander and ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, known United the fragmented lands of the country under his reign. His wife bore the name of a whale-but-Mandokoro, and then took the name of Codien. During her life, the temple belonged to the sect of Soto Zen, and after the death of the founder moved to the Rinzai school.

The temple is located in the Higashiyama district and is close to the Buddhist complex of temples Kiyomizu-Dera temple and Yasaka pagoda (or Hokan-JI temple) – a monument of architecture of the VI century surrounded by residential buildings. The pagoda, which is over a thousand years, is one of the popular attractions of Kyoto, although it is slightly away from main tourist routes.

The temple of kodai-JI temple is located on the slopes of the Higashiyama mountains. Its construction was used longline layout, the building project was completed a master of his time Kobori, Ensu. In the upper tier is the house for tea ceremonies. First he was in the castle of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and after the death of the ruler was moved to the temple. Its construction was engaged in the master of tea ceremonies and each ruler of the sen no Rikyu.

In the middle tier are the main buildings of the temple – chapel honoring the founder of the temple, the house of the priest, another tea house and a garden and two ponds with names of "Lying dragon" and "new moon". Through one of the ponds spanned a covered bridge with a gazebo, where, according to legend, widow of Hideyoshi admired the glow of the moon and its reflection in the mirror of the lake. The garden has been preserved almost in its original form in which it was founded in the early XVII century.

Next to the temple has a large statue Ranjan Kannon is the Japanese equivalent of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in a female form, the embodiment of compassion. Besides, in the dark on the temple grounds include special lighting, and garden "painted" with colored floodlights.