Hongan-ji Temple

Hongan-ji Temple, a valuable site representing modern Japanese architecture of Kyoto

Hongan-ji Temple is a National Treasure where you can easily drop in and view Goei-do Hall and Amida-do Hall. It is a popular tourist spot within easy walking distance from Kyoto Station.
Business Hours
Saturday ( 5:30 AM ~ 5:30 PM )
Sunday ( 5:30 AM ~ 5:30 PM )
Weekdays ( 5:30 AM ~ 5:30 PM )
Address
本願寺, Shimogyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone
(075) 371-5241

About

Hongan-ji Temple, close to Kyoto Station, where you will encounter National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties

Hongan-ji Temple, which is close to Kyoto Station, is located in Shimogyo Ward in Kyoto, and is called Nishi Hongan-ji while residents of the city affectionately refer to it as O-Nishi-san. The temple grounds have been registered as a National Historic Site and have also become a World Heritage site as an ancient Kyoto cultural property.

You can view the valuable buildings that have been registered as National Treasures representing modern Japanese architecture such as Goei-do Hall, the world’s largest wooden building, and Amida-do Hall which contains the statue of Amida Nyorai, located in the center of the huge grounds of the temple. In particular, a highlight is the massive Daikouryou crossbeam inside Goei-do Hall which is exquisitely carved and decorated. Not just a National Treasure in itself, the temple has preserved numerous buildings and works of fine and applied arts such as Japan’s oldest Noh stage which have been recognized as Important Cultural Properties, but although some of the buildings can be seen free of admission, many of the others are sadly not open to the general public.

Tools that were used to create exhibits such as the mozuna, a rope made from women’s hair and hemp, and the ohzori sled are also displayed. At the reception area, you can see displays of valuable artifacts of the temple and historical information on the founder Shinran Shonin. The huge grounds of Hongan-ji have also been recognized as National Historic Sites where you can enjoy yourself by simply taking a walk there.

The dry landscape garden, Kokei-no-Niwa

Hongan-ji’s Kokei-no-Niwa Garden was known as one of the three great gardens during the Heian Era when Kyoto was the capital. Kokei-no-Niwa is a dry landscape garden which uses sand and rocks to represent water. It was built in the image of Mount Lushan in China so that it would look like the actual mountain as seen from the roof of Goei-do Hall. Merely viewing it is relaxing, so the garden is recommended as a place to spend some leisurely time.

read more

Plan your trip to kyoto

Chat with a local tour guide who can help organize your trip.

Request a Tour

Reviews

9 years ago
One of the largest wooden structures in the world
I find Honganji Temple over a moat of water filled with lily pads. The temple has a cleansing basin with a water-breathing dragon the looks simply stunning. The Goeido Hall is the second largest wooden structure in Kyoto. It is also one of the world’s largest wooden structures. The garden a place of National Scenic Beauty. I learn a little history at Honganji Temple, specifically that the Shinran sect is the type of Buddhism here. In 1532 a Nichiren Buddhism sect felt that the Shinran sect was becoming too powerful, so they burned down the temple. Fortunately, it has since been rebuilt, and looks incredible.
read more