Nishi Hongan-ji temple

Nishi Hongan-ji temple

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Area：Shimogyo Ward Sightseeing　Genre： Japanese culture and history World Cultural Heritage

Best time to visit： Whole year

Category of Spot： Temples/ Shrines/ Castles

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Japanese culture and history World Cultural Heritage

Nishi-Hongan-ji is the head temple of Jodo Shin-shu Hongan-ji-ha sect that has about ten million believers and is the biggest Buddhist religious corporation in Japan.

Though the big temple is one of 17 World Cultural Heritage sites of Kyoto, tourists should not expect much from this temple. They have several national treasure structures and a couple of good gardens but all of them are closed to the public except one, Kara-mon gate.

History of Nishi Hongan-ji

The temple was originally built in Higashiyama in 1272. In 1591, it was moved to the current site that was donated by the then virtual ruler of Japan, TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi (1536 or 1537-1598).