‹
京都府
Toku
[ No photos yet ]
Be the first to share one
Honpoji
京都府
Nichiren head temple founded by the unyielding monk Nichinin, housing Hasegawa Tohaku's Nirvana painting and Koetsu's celebrated 'Tomoe' garden
Founded
1436
Type
Temple
Visited
Want to go
Access
About 3 min walk from Horikawa-Teranouchi bus stop, or 13 min walk from Imadegawa Station (Karasuma Subway Line)
617 Honpoji Maemachi, Ogawa-dori Teranouchiagaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
Open in Google Maps ↗
Info
Temple
Founded 1436
590 years
Enshrined Deity
三宝尊
→
Buddhist Sect
Nichiren
→
Overview
A head temple of the Nichiren school founded in 1436 by the monk Nichinin, a treasure trove of art nestled in a corner of Nishijin. The "Tomoe-no-niwa" garden, said to have been designed by Hon\'ami Koetsu and designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty, is a dry landscape garden in which three stone arrangements form a tomoe shape. The temple holds Hasegawa Tohaku\'s masterpiece "Butsu Nehanzu" …
Read more
Origins
Honpoji was founded in 1436 by the Nichiren monk Nichinin, who is celebrated for his unyielding faith: he remonstrated with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori by preaching the Lotus Sutra and endured the brutal torture known as "Nabe-kaburi" (pot on the head) without renouncing his beliefs. The temple is sai…
Read more
Pilgrimage Courses
Shinbutsu Reijo Pilgrimage
0 / 149 spots
→
Divine Benefits
Warding Off Evil
Purification
Rebirth in Pure Land
Averting disaster, directional protection, warding off epidemics. Central at Fudo, Kannon, and Gion-related sites.
Derived from the enshrined deity "三宝尊"

人
Related Figures
— 1

Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Taiko, Ruler of All
›
During the Tenshō era (1573-1592), Toyotomi Hideyoshi carried out a large-scale reorganization of Kyoto, relocating and consolidating temples across the city. Honpō-ji, founded in 1436, was affected by this policy and, after repeated relocations and rebuilding, ultimately settled at its present site on Ogawa-dori in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto.
Posts
0
＋
No posts yet
Goshuin
No goshuin posts yet
Visiting Information
Hours
Visiting hours 10:00-16:00. Closed during temple observances and New Year.
Admission
Grounds free. Treasure hall/garden: adults 500, students 300.
As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.
Official Links
Official Site
eishouzan.honpouji.nichiren-shu.jp
↗
Also Worth Visiting
妙
Myokenji
The first Nichiren temple built in Kyoto, founded in 1321 by Nichizo and designated an imperial prayer temple by Emperor Go-Daigo, with a main hall relocated from Hideyoshi's Jurakudai
224m
→
妙
Myokakuji
Nichiren head temple where Nobunaga lodged over 20 times; heir Nobutada left here for his last stand at Honnoji, and the main gate is a relocated Jurakudai palace gate
334m
→
涌
Yusenji (Matsugasaki)
Nichiren temple in Matsugasaki that oversees the 'Ho' Gozan Okuribi bonfire and perpetuates the Daimoku dance, a Kyoto Intangible Folk Cultural Property
3.6km
→
報
Hoonji (Naki-tora Temple)
Nishijin Jodo temple preserving the 'Crying Tiger' painting treasured by Toyotomi Hideyoshi—he returned it when the tiger cried each night
257m
→
Daitokuji
Zen sanctuary of Ikkyu and Rikyu — 24 sub-temples with stunning dry-landscape gardens
1.1km
→
建
Kenkun Jinja
Enshrining Oda Nobunaga by imperial command of 1869 atop Mt. Funaoka, Kyoto's guardian hill — matchlock musket demonstrations mark the October grand festival
918m
→
黄
Obaiin
Daitokuji sub-temple built by Oda Nobunaga in 1562, with a roji garden attributed to Sen no Rikyu and ties to Kobayakawa Takakage
931m
→
法
Houhoji
Nichiren temple where Nishijin silk merchants have prayed since the Muromachi era, a quiet bastion of Hokke faith at the gates of Kitano Tenmangu
1.5km
→
記
Suggest an update
Suggest fixes to the location, history, visiting hours, access, facilities, notes and more
›
Report incorrect info ›
Get the app for a better experience
Auto stamp via GPS, offline access, and favorites tracking
View in app
＋
Explore pilgrimage with the app
View in app
✕