162367Hōnen-in Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan

162367

Hōnen-in Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan

Address: 30 Shikagatani Gosho Dan-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture > Map
URL: http://www.honen-in.jp/ – Japanese
Phone: +81-(0)75-771-2420

Honen-in Temple

This old temple is located in a tranquil setting next to a promenade known as the Philosopher’s Walk which was created aside a canal. At the suggestion of the 38th Banbuosho of Chion-in Temple, the base of the current temple was built as a place to chant prayers because the location was affiliated with Honen in 1680.

When you climb the stone-paved approach, the thatched San-mon Gate greets you with mountain village charm. Inside the compound, there are many graves of literary people and scholars who loved the quiet elegance of the temple. In early spring, a wide variety of camellias, including the goshiki-chiri (falling in five colors) camellia, come into bloom so that the temple is sometimes called Camellia Temple.

In the fall, many people who know Kyoto well come to see the leaves that have fallen on the roof of the simple San-mon Gate.

On both sides of the approach, neat white sand mounds which represent water are said to signify the purification of the hearts and bodies of passersby. Various patterns and writing—perhaps made by people of the temple when in a playful mood—can be found on the mounds that change from time to time or even daily.

Although there are many tourists pushing to get in during the camellia and fall seasons, at other times, Honen-in Temple is a little-noticed spot great for spending some quiet time listening to what your heart has to say. The inside of the temple is not open to the public normally, but twice a year, from April 1 to 7 and from November 1 to 7, the general public is welcome to enter.

Honen-in Temple
Open hours: 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: Free (a special admission fee applies to the inside of the temple when open to the public)

Access:

Take Kyoto city bus 5/17/203/204 to the Jodo-ji bus stop. It is a 10-minute walk.
Take Kyoto city bus 32 to the Minamida-cho bus stop. It is a five-minute walk.