Kansai? category ?

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.

Seiganji Temple is located within the Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcade. As soon as I passed through the gate, the main hall was right in front of me, and I was free to enter it. The principal image of the temple is the Amitabha, a gigantic Buddha statue measuring approximately 6.5 meters (21.3 ft).

The area around Kyoto Kawaramachi Station is one of the busiest areas in Kyoto City. Originally, it was an area where many temples gathered, and it became a bustling place that developed with the number of worshippers. Even today, there are many temples and shrines that can be enjoyed along with shopping.

Yasaka Shrine is an ancient shrine that dates back to before 794, when the city of Kyoto was founded. It is the head shrine of the approximately 2,300 Yasaka shrines in Japan. The main hall is the largest of its kind among shrine buildings and is designated a national treasure. Yasaka Shrine has two popular sub-shrines.

Kawai-jinja Shrine is located within the grounds of Shimogamo-jinja Shrine. A beautiful goddess is enshrined here, and it is said that those who pray there will become beautiful. The experience of drawing a face on a hand-mirror-shaped ema (votive plaque) is popular.

This temple is the head temple of the Sennyuji school of the Shingon sect. Many imperial mausoleums have been constructed here, and the area has deep ties to the Imperial Family. The layout in which the gate, the main hall, and the relic hall were aligned in a straight line was a typical style for old temples.

This shrine was founded in 794 - the year Kyoto was established - to protect the imperial capital. A deity governing the directional aspects of Onmyodo is enshrined here. For this reason, the influence of Onmyodo philosophy was strongly evident, and the layout differed somewhat from that of typical Japanese shrines.

This shrine is associated with two important historical events in Kyoto. One factor was the death of Emperor Sudo, which triggered the relocation of the capital to Kyoto. Another major event was the outbreak of the Onin War (1467-1477) in this area. It is a very quiet shrine these days.

This temple is one of the head temples of the Jodo sect. As I passed through the gate, the first thing that surprised me was the vastness of the temple grounds. I was able to freely enter the main hall. A statue of Honen Shonin, the founder of the Jodo sect, was enshrined at the front.

This temple features a giant statue of Kannon (Avalokitesvara) standing 24 meters (78.74 feet) tall. This temple was built in 1955 to commemorate those who lost their lives in the war. For this reason, I offered incense as an act of devotion. Many Buddha statues were enshrined inside the Kannon statue.