Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji)

Temple

Prefecture

Kyoto

Type

Temple

N/A

0 reviews

Train Access

About This Destination

A 46-metre, five-storey pagoda rebuilt in 1440 that closes the view down Yasaka-dori. The street is the draw and it is packed by mid-morning; the inside opens only on irregular days.

Most people know the Yasaka Pagoda from one view: Yasaka-dori dropping downhill between wooden townhouses, with the five-storey tower filling the end of the lane. That shot is why the street jams from mid-morning, with people in rented kimono posing in the middle of the road and taxis inching through. The pagoda belongs to Hokan-ji, a small Rinzai temple of the Kenninji branch. Tradition credits Prince Shotoku with founding it in 589, and excavations show a temple stood here by the Asuka period. The present tower, about 46 metres tall, was rebuilt in 1440 under the shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori and is an Important Cultural Property. Inside, the ground floor holds a set of five seated Buddhas, the Gochi Nyorai, and visitors are allowed up to the second level. Getting in is the catch. The temple has no website and opens the interior on an irregular schedule, so plenty of visitors find the gate closed. Treat the inside as a bonus. The pagoda stands between Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera, so it fits on the walk from one to the other, and early morning is the only time the lane is quiet.

Location

Prefecture: Kyoto

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Nearest Station: Gion-Shijo Station

Hours note: The pagoda interior opens on an irregular schedule that the temple does not publish online, so the gate is often shut. The outside of the pagoda can be seen from the street at any hour.

Best time to visit: Early morning in any season, before the lane fills; autumn and cherry season are the most crowded

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go inside the Yasaka Pagoda?

Sometimes. The interior opens on an irregular schedule that is not published online, and visitors who get in can see the five seated Buddhas on the ground floor and climb to the second level. Plan your day around the outside and treat an open gate as a bonus.

When is the best time to photograph the pagoda from Yasaka-dori?

Early morning. From mid-morning the lane fills with visitors and taxis, and in cherry and autumn season it stays busy until dark. Stand to the side when you shoot: it is a public road and people live on it.

How old is the Yasaka Pagoda?

The present tower was rebuilt in 1440 under the shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori and is about 46 metres tall. Temple tradition dates the founding to 589 under Prince Shotoku, and excavations confirm a temple here by the Asuka period.