There are many fascinating temples and shrines around Kyoto Station. Among them, the most recommended are Higashi Honganji, Nishi Honganji, and Toji.
Here we will introduce a travel course that will take you around these three temples while also stopping off at nearby shrines and temples. It would take a whole day to walk the whole thing, so try and arrange it according to your schedule.
Walking Map
Highlights
Higashi-Honganji temple
Higashi Honganji Temple is a 7-minute walk north from Kyoto Station. It is the head temple of the Otani sect of Shinshu Buddhism.
The temple grounds contain some of the world’s largest wooden buildings, including the Goeido Gate, Goeido Hall, and Amida Hall.
Higashi-Honganji temple (Kyoto) Huge wooden buildings
Doso-Jinja Shrine
This is a shrine that enshrines the Dosojin (traveler’s guardian deity). They were originally built at the entrance to villages to ward off epidemics. It became a guardian deity watching over travelers leaving the village. Furthermore, since many people meet at the entrance to the village, it has also become the deity of matchmaking.
At the entrance to the shrine, a stone monument carved with a male and female deity together catches your eye.
Nishi-Honganji temple
Nishi Honganji is the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect. The two huge wooden halls are designated as Japan’s national treasures.
There are many other valuable buildings within the temple grounds.
Nishi-Honganji temple (Kyoto) Hidden Attractions
Koshoji Temple
This temple is located next to Nishi-Honganji Temple and is the head temple of the Shinshu Koshoha sect.
Like Higashi-Honganji and Nishi-Honganji, the Goeido Hall and Amida Hall are built side by side within the temple grounds.
Sotokuji Temple Awashimado Hall
Awashimado is worshipped as the guardian deity of women. It is said to bring benefits such as recovery from gynecological illnesses and prayers for safe childbirth.
The doll memorial service is also famous. There are many donated dolls lined up in the precincts. These were spectacular sights.
Rokusonno-Jinja Shrine
The deity enshrined at Rokusonno Shrine is Minamoto no Tsunemoto. He was the first head of the Seiwa Genji clan, which established a military government. For this reason, it is said to bring prosperity to the family and good fortune in career advancement.
The Sarasvati shrine within the shrine grounds was enshrined above the well where the baby was bathed after birth. It is one of the seven famous springs in Kyoto.
Toji temple
Toji Temple was built around 1,200 years ago when the city of Kyoto was founded. It is home to a five-story pagoda that is the tallest wooden building in Japan.
The three-dimensional mandala, which depicts the world of esoteric Buddhism by arranging Buddhist statues, is a must-see.
Toji temple (Kyoto) Beautiful pagoda and Buddha statues
Fushimi-Inari temporary shrine
This shrine is the temporary shrine of Fushimi-Inari Shrine, famous for its thousand vermilion torii gates. There are four small shrine buildings lined up within the grounds.
It is usually quiet, but becomes lively during the festivals in April and May.
From here it’s a 10 minute walk back to Kyoto Station.
