The area around Kyoto Kawaramachi Station is one of the busiest areas in Kyoto City. There are many attractive shops and restaurants here.
Originally, it was an area where many temples gathered, and it became a bustling place that developed with the number of worshippers. For this reason, there are still many temples and shrines in the area today, which you can enjoy along with shopping.
Here we will introduce temples and shrines that you can visit while walking from south to north along Shinkyogoku Street, starting from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station.
Walking Map
Highlights
Somedonoin Temple : Prayer for safe delivery
Somedonoin Temple was founded in 808 by Kukai, one of the most famous monks in Japanese history. It is located at the southern end of Shinkyogoku Shopping Street. It’s a rather unusual location, as you enter the temple just by passing through Hayashi-Manshodo, a store specializing in sweet chestnuts.
The Empress of Emperor Montoku prayed to this temple and became pregnant, so it is said to grant safe childbirth.
Nishiki-Tenmangu Shrine : Academic Success
This shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, who showed extraordinary academic talent. He had a deep connection with cattle, and there is a statue of a reclining cattle in the precincts.
It is said that if you stroke this cattle, you will pass your exams.
Eifukuji Temple (Octopus Medicine Buddha hall)
Eifukuji Temple enshrines Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) as its principal image. There is a story at this temple about a monk who bought octopus for his sick mother, but was questioned as to whether a monk should eat it. The octopus then turned into a sutra scroll and cured his mother of her illness.
A statue of an octopus is enshrined in the main hall.
Seishinin Temple : Love Success
This temple was headed by Izumi Shikibu, a female poet who was active from the late 10th century to the early 11th century. There are graves and a monument inscribed with poems within the grounds.
She is known for her passionate love poems. If you turn the Prayer wheel at the entrance to the temple, you will be granted success in love.
Seiganji Temple : Women’s Salvation
Seiganji Temple has long been revered as a temple that provides salvation to women.
You can freely enter the main hall. The principal image of the temple is the Amitabha, a gigantic Buddha statue measuring approximately 6.5 meters (21.3 ft).
Yatadera Temple : Protect from evil
The monk Mankei, who founded Yatadera temple, saw Ksitigarbha saving the suffering souls of the dead in hell. It is said that the principal image of Ksitigarbha was carved based on that image.
For this reason, it is believed that this temple will take on people’s suffering and protect them from evil.
Honnoji Temple : Avoid disaster
Honnoji Temple is the head temple of the Hokke sect Honmon school. It is famous as the temple where Oda Nobunaga, one of Japan’s most famous Military commanders of the Warring States period, met his end.
Because it was burned down at that time, the temple became known as one that hates fire. It is said that during a major fire in 1788, water gushed out from the ginkgo trees in the temple grounds and saved the lives of many people.
