Hōnen-in (法然院)

Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)Hōnen-in (法然院)

Honen-in stands on the site where priest Honen founded the Jodo sect of Buddhism. The current main hall dates from 1680. While many generations of monks have studied Honen's doctrine at Honen-in, the 20th century saw the temple turn more into a family sanctuary. After the second World War, Honen-in became a private entity, separated from the Jodo sect. As many temples, Honen-in is now mostly caring for the deceased (funerals, cemetery, etc).

Apart from rare exceptional openings, the temple itself is closed to the public. However, the grounds in front of the buildings and its famous moss-covered gate are open year round. The gate (Sanmon 山門) opens on a garden with two sand mounds on either sides of the path that leads to the temple. The mounds have various seasonal patterns drawn on them. The path leads to a small bridge over a dark pond that contains a few carps. After the bridge the path continues to the right behind the temple buildings where public access ends.

Honen-in is a classic stop when visiting the string of temples along the philosopher's path. It is located a few minutes on foot from Ginkaku-ji. Access to the open grounds is free.

Recommended for: Access: 500 円

Nearby: Yōji-ya よーじや銀閣寺店 (310m), Reikan-ji 霊鑑寺 (340m), Ginkaku-ji 銀閣寺 (350m), Anraku-ji 安楽寺 (380m), Wachu-an 和中庵 (390m), Hakusa-sonsō 白沙村荘 (480m), Sakuradanicho 47 桜谷町47 (530m), Ōtoyo-jinja 大豊神社 (620m), Shinyo-dō 真如堂 (780m), Kōun-ji 光雲寺 (780m),...

External links: Website, ウィキペディア, Wikipedia, Kyoto Navi, Trip Advisor, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Inside Kyoto, Marutake, そうだ京都, Satellite view, Map

Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, 南左京, Sakyo-ku, Honen-in, temple, 寺院, 仏閣

Statistics: visited on 16 occasions, id 211, 21 photos (50 extra photos can be found in the archive).

Photos of Hōnen-in:

Heap of sand and mossy temple gate, Honen-in
Honen-in temple gardens and gate
Two patterned heaps of sand in Honen-in temple
Moss-covered gate of Hosen-in temple in autumn
Sand mound and moss-covered gate of Hosen-in temple in autumn
Moss-covered gate of Hosen-in temple in autumn
Dark and rough pavement on a footpath in Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Thatched roof gate lost in lush green vegetation, Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Stone bridge leading to small shrine in the back garden of Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Fallen camellia petals on raked sand garden in Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Tea room in Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Floral composition with camellias, Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Gorinto-shaped funeral tablets on a grave in Hōnen-in cemetery, Kyoto, Japan
Fallen camellia and bicycle sign near Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Thatched gate amidst green spring maple foliage in Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
The mossy thatched gate of Honen-in temple in autumn, Kyoto, Japan
Early autumn colours around the thatched gate of Honen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan
Braving the snow in Hōnen-in temple, Kyoto, Japan