Nishi Hongan-ji
Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- Daily
- 5:30 to 17:00
Source: hongwanji.kyoto, checked 11 Oct 2026.
The head temple of the Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu, and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage listing since 1994. The Goei-do, rebuilt in 1636, measures 62 m by 48 m, and you can walk in and sit on its tatami. Out front, a ginkgo of about 400 years spreads its branches like roots, which is why it's called the upside-down ginkgo.
More photos of Nishi Hongan-ji
Insider tip
Monks lead free 30-minute tours of the grounds at 10:00, 11:30, 13:45 and 15:30, with no booking, rain or shine. The morning service starts at 6:00 in the Amida-do. The weekend English guides from Ryukoku University are suspended for now.
What's on at Nishi Hongan-ji
Upcoming events at Nishi Hongan-ji and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Year-end Dust Cleaning at Nishi Honganji
御煤払い（西本願寺）
Time From about 7:00 Station Nishi Hongwanji-mae bus stop (City Bus 9), 1 min walk
Monks and followers beat the tatami of the Goeido hall with bamboo poles and fan a year's dust out with big paper fans, a cleaning held here for over 500 years, since the time of Rennyo. It starts at about 7:00 and anyone can watch.
xiquinhosilva, CC BY 4.0 NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS at Higashi Honganji and Shosei-en
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS 東本願寺・渉成園
Time 18:00 to 22:00 (Higashi Honganji last entry 21:00) Station Gojo (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk
NAKED lights Higashi Honganji and its detached garden Shosei-en for an evening walk through five scenes. Adult tickets are ¥2,100 Monday to Thursday and ¥2,300 Friday to Sunday and on holidays (¥200 less in advance), and from 6 to 8 Nov and on 25 Nov only Shosei-en is open.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Year-end Dust Cleaning at Higashi Honganji
お煤払い（東本願寺）
Time From 9:00 Station Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line), 7 min walk
Followers from all over Japan line up across the tatami of the Founder's and Amida halls, beat it with split bamboo and fan the dust out with paper fans about 2 m across. Then the head of the temple traces the character for 'long life' on a paper screen with a bamboo pole.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Umekoji Park Handmade Market
梅小路公園手づくり市
Time 9:00 to 16:00 Station Umekoji-Kyotonishi (JR Sagano Line)
The sister market of the Hyakumanben one, with makers' stalls in Umekoji Park, and unlike at the temple you can bring a dog. It goes ahead in the rain.
Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kyoto Ongaku Hakurankai (Kyoto Music Expo)
京都音楽博覧会
Station Umekoji-Kyotonishi (JR Sagano Line)
The band Quruli's outdoor music festival on the lawn of Umekoji Park, held since 2007, and a one-day advance ticket was ¥13,000 for the 20th edition in 2026.
Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0 Nearby
Around Kyoto Station
Free temples and late ramen a few minutes from the platforms
Most visitors only see Kyoto Station on the way in or out, which is a shame. Higashi Hongan-ji is 7 minutes north on foot and free, To-ji's pagoda is 15 minutes south, and at the railway museum to the west a working steam engine will pull you along. After dark, 15,000 LEDs light the station's 171-step staircase.
Kyoto Station has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 4 shrines and temples, 4 museums, 3 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 cafes, 2 parks and gardens, 2 bathhouses, 1 bar, 1 landmark, 1 viewpoint and 1 market. Read the Kyoto Station guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Nishi Hongan-ji?
- Honganji Monzen-machi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市下京区堀川通花屋町下る本願寺門前町).
- What are the opening hours of Nishi Hongan-ji?
- Daily 5:30 to 17:00.
- How do I get to Nishi Hongan-ji?
- The nearest station is Nishi Hongwanji-mae bus stop (City Bus 9, 28, 75). Nishi Hongan-ji is in Kyoto Station, Kyoto.
- How much does Nishi Hongan-ji cost?
- Nothing. Nishi Hongan-ji is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Nishi Hongan-ji?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Nishi Hongan-ji?
- Early morning.
Stay near Nishi Hongan-ji
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