Higashi-Honganji temple (Kyoto) Huge wooden buildings

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Higashi-Honganji

TEL :075-371-9210（9:00〜17:00）
Address :Karasuma Shichi-jo Agaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Access :JR Kyoto Station > 7 minutes walk
Parking :There is a parking lot

Introduction to Higashi-Honganji temple

Higashi-Honganji is the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Otani sect. The name of this temple means Honganji in the East.

It is located very close to Kyoto Station. There are many buildings designated as important cultural properties within the temple grounds.

One of the world’s largest wooden buildings

Heading out from Kyoto Station, the first thing you’ll see is the Goeido Gate. It is 21m (23yd) wide at the front, 13m (14.2yd) wide at the sides and 27m (29.5yd) high. It is said to be one of the largest wooden temple gates in the world.

Once you pass through this Goeido Gate, you will find the Goeido (Main) Hall. It is 76m (83.1yd) wide at the front, 58m (63.4yd) wide at the side and 38m (41.6yd) high. This is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. A statue of Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect, is enshrined here.

To the left of it is the Amida Hall. This is also the fourth largest wooden building in Japan in terms of floor area. The principal image of the temple, the Amida Buddha (Amitabha), is enshrined here.

You can enter these two halls. You can also attend the memorial service, which starts at 7am. In the spacious hall, monks recite sutras, creating a refreshing feeling.

Special Photos

I will also show you some photos taken from places you normally wouldn’t see. Below is a photo taken from the top of the Goeido Gate.

Below is a photo taken from the rooftop of a building behind Amida Hall. You can see white dots on the roof; these are plastic bags that flew in and got caught during the typhoon. The monk said that the building was too big and she couldn’t go and get it.

Sacred Beast

There are various hidden spots in Higashi-Honganji Temple. What I really like is the dragon in front of the Goeido Hall. With its eyes wide open and its body twisting, it presents an imposing sight.

The pillars of the Goeido Gate are wrapped in metal plates for protection. There are a total of 32 lions here, playing, leaping about and in various other poses. Only one of them is asleep. If you have time, try looking for it.

Although it is usually closed to the public, the Daishinden Hall at the rear of Higashi- Honganji Temple is the oldest building on the temple grounds. There are many sparrows depicted on this wall painting.