Chion-In

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  • Address
    Shinbashi-dōri, Yamatoōji Higashi iru 3, Rinka-chō 400, Higashiyama-ku
  • Phone
    531 2111
  • Transport
    underground rail: 10min walk from exit 2, Higashiyama Station, Tōzai subway line, 10min walk from exit 2, Higashiyama Station, Tōzai line

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Lonely Planet review

The most impressive single sight in Southern Higashiyama, Chion-in is a must-see for those with a taste for the grand and glorious. It was built by the monk Genchi in 1234 on the site where his mentor, Hōnen, had taught and eventually fasted to death. Today it is still the headquarters of the Jōdo school, which was founded by Hōnen, and it's a hive of religious activity.

The oldest of the present buildings date from the 17th century. The two-storey San-mon gate at the main entrance is the largest in Japan, and prepares the visitor for the massive scale of the temple. The immense main hall contains an image of Hōnen and is connected with the Dai Hōjō hall by a 'nightingale' floor that squeaks as one walks over it.

After visiting the main hall, with its fantastic gold altar, you can walk around the back of the same building to see the temple's gardens. On the way, you'll pass a darkened hall with a small statue of Amida Buddha on display, glowing eerily in the darkness. It makes a nice contrast to the splendour of the main hall.

The Daishōrō belfry houses a bell that was cast in 1633, measuring 2.7m in diameter and weighing almost 80 tonnes - the largest in Japan. The combined muscle power of 17 monks is required to make the bell budge during the ceremony to ring in the new year.