Chion-in

Temple

Prefecture

Kyoto

Type

Temple

N/A

1 review

¥300

Entry Fee

Train Access

About This Destination

The head temple of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism, featuring Japan's largest temple gate at 24 meters high and a colossal main hall that seats thousands.

Chion-in is the headquarters of the Jodo (Pure Land) sect of Japanese Buddhism, established in 1234 at the site where the sect's founder Honen taught and eventually died. The temple's colossal Sanmon gate, standing 24 meters high and built in 1621, is the largest temple gate in Japan and a designated National Treasure. The Mieido main hall (originally built in 1639) reopened in 2020 after a nine-year structural restoration that preserved the historic timber framework, and is one of the largest wooden structures in the world, accommodating thousands of worshippers. The temple is famous for its Seven Wonders, including a nightingale floor designed to alert monks to intruders and an umbrella left by a master carpenter in the rafters as a talisman. The bell at Chion-in, cast in 1636, is one of the largest in Japan and its ringing on New Year's Eve is broadcast nationally. The sweeping temple grounds encompass the hillside of Higashiyama with two exquisite gardens.

Location

Prefecture: Kyoto

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Nearest Station: Higashiyama Station (Tozai Subway Line)

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: No dining on the temple grounds. The nearby Maruyama Park area and Shijo-dori street offer numerous restaurants, cafes, and street food vendors within a short walk.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Chion-in?

Chion-in sits in eastern Kyoto next to Maruyama Park. From Kyoto Station, take city bus #206 to 'Chionin-mae' stop (about 25 minutes, 230 yen flat fare). From the Tozai subway, get off at Higashiyama Station and walk 8 minutes south. From Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Line, walk 10 minutes east. The towering Sanmon gate is impossible to miss as you approach.

What's the entry fee for Chion-in?

The temple grounds, the massive Sanmon gate (exterior view), and the restored Mieido main hall are free to enter. The two paid garden areas — Yuzen-en and Hojo Garden — cost 300 yen each, or 500 yen as a combined ticket. The Sanmon gate's upper level is open only during certain seasonal special openings (typically around 800 yen). Cash and major cards accepted. Open daily 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last admission 4 PM for paid areas).

When is the best time to visit Chion-in?

Spring (early April) for cherry blossoms in the adjacent Maruyama Park — the area combines beautifully. Mid-November for autumn foliage in Yuzen-en. New Year's Eve is unforgettable: the giant 70-ton bell is rung 108 times by 17 monks pulling together — broadcast nationally. The huge Mieido hall (reopened 2020 after restoration) is most peaceful at the 9 AM opening. Allow 1.5–2 hours including the gardens.

What are the Seven Wonders of Chion-in?

Chion-in's Seven Wonders are: a nightingale-floor corridor that chirps when walked on (warning of intruders), an umbrella left in the rafters by master carpenter Hidari Jingoro as a talisman against fire, sliding-screen paintings of cats whose eyes seem to follow you, large sparrows said to fly off the screens, a sash-string seal said to confer eloquence, a stone chrysanthemum said to bloom in cold weather, and a giant rice ladle stored in the Sanmon gate. Most are on the temple grounds — guides explain them on selected days.