Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto – Highlights & Personal photos.

2024-08-072024-08-31

Higashi Honganji is a temple with one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. If you look at it up close, you will be overwhelmed by its presence and profound feeling.

This article will share the highlights of Higashi Honganji Temple, along with some personal photographs.

Getting to Higashi Honganji Temple from Kyoto Station

The most convenient way to reach Higashi Honganji Temple from Kyoto Station is by walk. Higashi Honganji Temple is located about a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Station.

The photo above is one of the entrances, Amida-do Gate. If you come from Kyoto Station, this is the front entrance. It has gorgeous carvings.

Highlights of Higashi Honganji Temple

The biggest highlight of Higashi Honganji Temple is the large scale of the main hall, Goeido Hall. It is said to be one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, measuring 76 x 58 meters and 38 meters high. When I saw it up close, I was overwhelmed by its scale.

Additionally, the Goeido Gate in the photo above is said to be one of the largest wooden gates in the world, and the tallest double gate in Japan. I was also mesmerized by the beautiful carvings on the Goeido Gate seen through the fountain.

The photo above is of Amidado Hall, which is located next to Goeido Hall.

The building has a statue of Amitabha Buddha enshrined inside and is decorated with luxurious gold. This is said to represent the Pure Land.

As a hidden highlight, in the hallway between the Goeido Hall and the worship reception area, there are many words and phrases that sometimes touched the heart hung on the walls. In addition to English, there are translations in Chinese, Korean, and Portuguese.

The photo above means “That which we continue to seek in our lives is a deep understanding and consent.”(What we continue to pursue in life is a deep understanding and understanding of ourselves.)