Chion-in was established in 1234 on the site where Hōnen, one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist figures, taught Jōdo Buddhism (Pure Land) and eventually fasted to death. Headquarters of the sect, the largest school of Buddhism in Japan, Chion-in (知恩院; chion-in.or.jp/en) is Kyoto’s most popular pilgrimage temple, and with soaring buildings, spacious courtyards and gardens, it's sure to satisfy.
Of note is the two-story San-mon temple gate, the largest in Japan, and the immense Miei-dō Hall (Main Hall) with an image of Hōnen. After touring the buildings, take in the two gardens – the Hōjō garden, designed around a pond (called the chisen kaiyūshiki style), and the Yuzen-en featuring a kare-sansui (dry landscape garden).
From the Hōjō garden, steps continue up to a variety of small halls, a Shintō shrine, views across the city and the temple’s giant bell, cast in 1633 and, at 70 tonnes, Japan’s largest.
