[2024 Kyoto Attraction] Travel Guide for Higashi Hongan-ji Temple (Updated Nov)

The Black and Gold Beauty of Higashi Honganji in Kyoto

Higashi Honganji is truly a pleasant surprise! The main hall here is incredibly majestic, with a high roof that seems to reach the sky! What catches the eye even more is the understated yet luxurious black and gold color scheme. The golden decorations on the sturdy wooden structure make it look like it's wearing a sophisticated gown, exuding elegance and grandeur. And the best part is—it's free! Even better, there are hardly any people! The entire temple is quiet, and walking through the spacious corridors with sunlight streaming through the eaves feels like traveling back in time and becoming a hermit for a day. The black and gold beams look especially solemn in the sunlight, and sitting inside the hall, you can feel your restless heart instantly calm down. If you're visiting Kyoto, you must come to Higashi Honganji to experience this understated luxury and healing tranquility. It's truly worth it!

Kyoto's Ancient Charm: Higashi Honganji Temple. Take a stroll through history and faith.

Whether it's cherry blossom season or the fiery red leaves of late autumn, Kyoto is not only a living fossil of Japanese culture, but also a pilgrimage site for the soul. Among them, Higashi Honganji Temple, with its solemnity and mystery, attracts travelers from all over the world, making it a must-visit landmark in Kyoto. [Step into the Corridor of Time] The entrance to Higashi Honganji Temple is a gateway to another era. Take off your shoes, use the plastic bags provided in front of the temple to travel lightly, and every step you take is on top of a thousand years of history. The main hall and the master hall, two magnificent wooden structures, are ingeniously connected by a corridor, as if telling a dialogue between the past and the present. [Whisper of History] The master hall, a building 76 meters long from north to south and 58 meters wide from east to west, is towering and second only to Todaiji Temple in Nara. It was rebuilt during the Meiji period and carries the architectural skills and devout faith of the 19th century. The exhibits in the corridor, such as ropes woven from hair, were made from the hair donated by female believers during the reconstruction in the 1880s, witnessing the intertwining of history and faith. [Dialogue between Classic and Modern] Inside the hall, the natural fragrance of the ancient wood and the gentle breeze of the modern fan form a perfect fusion of classic and modern. Looking out from here, the figure of Kyoto Tower is looming, as if telling a dialogue between classic and modern, which is intoxicating. [Temperature of Faith] In Higashi Honganji Temple, every brick and tile contains a story, and every door leads to a period of history. It is not only the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Otani sect of Buddhism, but also a holy place where people's souls can be purified and sublimated. Whether it's the solemnity of the main hall or the solemnity of the master hall, people can feel the warmth of faith in the tranquility.

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Enter the World Heritage Site, Higashi Honganji

This share is about Higashi Honganji, a World Heritage Site in Kyoto. Higashi Honganji is the head temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha sect, officially known as 'Shinshu Honbyo.' To distinguish it from Nishi Honganji, it is commonly referred to as 'Higashi Honganji.' The origin of Honganji dates back to 1272 when Shinran's youngest daughter, Kakushinni, and others built a temple on the site of Otani in Higashiyama and enshrined a statue of Shinran. In 1591, the 11th head priest, Kennyo, accepted a temple site donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and built a temple hall (which became Nishi Honganji) on Taijo Horikawa. Later, in 1602, Tokugawa Ieyasu donated land at Karasuma Shichijo, and the 12th head priest, Kyonyo, established Honganji there, leading to the separation of Honganji into east and west. The current Garan was rebuilt during the Meiji period, and the Mieido, which houses the image of Shinran, is the world's largest wooden structure. 📍Address: Karasuma-dori Shichijo-agaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 🚃Transport: 7 minutes walk from JR Kyoto Station, 15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Kyoto Station 5 minutes walk from Gojo Station on the Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line, 1 minute walk from Karasuma Shichijo Station on the Kyoto City Bus Higashi Honganji

Higashi Hongan-ji temple

Higashi Hongan-ji temple or in Japanese language is Shinshu Honbyo (Higashi Honganji). This temple is Buddhist temple where is located in Kyoto, Japan. It is so beautiful and very natural. When you go inside, they are not allowed to make a loud noise. It is closed very early. If I don’t remember wrongly, it is closed around 4:30 p.m. You can go to this temple by walking, taking taxi. It is quite old famous temple and this temple is made from wood. Many people come to visit this temple for wish the luck. #Temple #Kyoto #Japan

Higashi Hongan-ji: Serenity in Kyoto

#fallishere Location: Japan, 〒600-8505 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward Higashi Hongan-ji（東本願寺）, located in Kyoto, Japan, is a significant temple in the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism. Established in 1602, it emerged as a separate entity from Nishi Hongan-ji due to disputes over leadership succession. The temple's history is intertwined with political and social changes in Japan, experiencing both prosperity and adversity. Throughout the centuries, Higashi Hongan-ji faced challenges such as fires and wars, contributing to the reconstruction of its structures. Notably, it played a role in the religious landscape during the Edo period and beyond. The temple complex showcases impressive architecture, including the Amida Hall, emphasizing the sect's focus on the worship of Amida Buddha. Higashi Hongan-ji continues to be a spiritual and cultural hub, attracting pilgrims and visitors alike. Its rich history and architectural significance make it a symbol of enduring Buddhist traditions in Japan. #trip #2023travel #2023trip #2023travelwish #2023旅行願望 #timetotravel #tripblazers #historical #heritage #kyoto #japan

Kyotos Higashi Honganji Temple is the Buddhist temple of the Pure Land of Otani, and it is located at Kyoto Station in Kyotos Shimogyo-ku. The general of the levy general, Tokugawa Ieyasu, divided the original Honganji Temple into the East and West Honganji Temple. Very imposing building, the Master Hall is equivalent to the Daxiong Hall of the Chinese Buddhist Temple. It is 76 meters from north to south and 58 meters from east to west. It is second only to Nara Temple in Nara. It is the largest wooden building in Kyoto and one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. I have no feeling for the Honganji Temple. I lived in the Kyoto Railway Station and walked across the Chengcheng Garden. It is the Dongbenyuan Temple. Anyway, I will come in without any tickets. I began to think that the ginkgo tree inside was very good, but when I went to the Nishi Honganji Temple, the thick old ginkgo was second to the east.