Kyoto Things to Do Tips by tompt

Shin Buddhism is the teaching of Shinran Shonin, born in the outskirts of Kyoto in 1173. At the age of 9 he received his ordination and went Mt Hiei (see our Kyoto-fu page) to undergo training and instruction in Buddhism at the Tendai monastery. After 20 years he began to disagree with the teachings there and left Mt Hiei. He met Honin Shonin who was teaching the Nembutsu (the recitation of the name of Amida Buddha) and became his disciple. The movement became to powerfull and was prohibited in 1207. Both Shinran and Honin were exciled. In 1211 they were pardonned, but Shinran didnīt return to Kyoto untill 20 years later, at the age of 60. He was still teaching the Nembutsu and wrote many religious tracts and verses. His most important work being the Kyogyoshinsho.
He died in 1263 at the age of 90.

Many temples we visited in Kyoto are related to this man: Higashi Hongwanji and Nishi Hongwangi, the Otani Mausoleum.

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Higashi Hongwanji is a big temple complex just north of Kyoto station. It is in honor of Shinran Shonin(1173-1262), the founder of Shin Buddhism, and also the mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha, one of the largest Buddhist denominations in Japan.

The founders hall (Goei-do) is one of the largest wooden structures in Japan. Its length is 76m (253ft), width is 58m (193m) and height is 38m (127ft). The floor of the hall is 927 tatami mats. In this hall, completed in 1895, a wooden image of the founder, Shinran, is enshrined.

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Directions: From Kyoto Station go north on the Karasuma dori, the temple is on your left after a few blocks.

The most famous, and odd, thing in the Higashi Hongwanji is the kezuna. Kezuna means hairrope.
When the Founders Hall was build difficulties arose due to the weight of the timber. Conventinal ropes were not strong enough to transport the heavy beams. This delayed the work. Female believers donated their hair to weave massive ropes. 53 ropes were made and did the job. The largest rope measured 110 meters, had a circumference of 40 cm and weighed 1000 kg.
A rope can be seen in the corridor between the Founders Hall and the Amida Hall.

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A few blocks west of the Higashi Hongwanji is the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, also called Nishi Hongwanji. It is the mother temple and headquarters for more than 12,000,000 Shin Buddhists.
Originally the Hongwanji temples are one, but when the movement became to powerfull it was split up by government in east and west (Higashi and Nishi)

The main building is under construstion untill 2010 (or later) and canīt be visted. The other buildings are not that much, so if you are visiting Kyoto before 2010 you can drop this one from the list......

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The Otani Mausoleum was erected by the daughter of Shinran Shonin after his death. It soon became the centre of the Hongwanji. The temple buildings were destroyed by monk warriors from Mt Hiei in the 15th century. Toyotomi Hideyoshi provided for the preservation of the mausoleum on the original sites and gave a piece of land were the new Hongwanji temple was build. (See previous tips)
The Otani Mausoleum is not only the mausoleum for Shinran Shonin, founder of the Shin Buddhism, but also to thousands others. On the grounds are two modern buildings that houses more than 20,000 small altars and the ashes of as many Shin Buddhists.

The area above the northern gate is called Toribeyama, famous since ancient times as a cremation and burial ground. It is covered with over 15000 tombs. The path through the cemetery leads to the Kiyomizu temple.

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Directions: The Otani mausoleum can be found by entering through the gate in the park on the corner of Gojo-dori and Higashioji-dori.

Take another route to Kiyomizu temple. The usual route is full of tourists and full of souvenirshops......

This path is leading from the Otani Mausoleum up the mountain to the Kiyomizu dera. Most of it is through the graveyard, Toribeyama.

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Directions: Just leave the Otani Mausoleum at the north gate or follow the road at the northside of the park.

One of the most famous temples in Kyoto is the Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu means clean water. Many people came here to drink from this sacred water.
The temple was first built in 798, but the buildings that you will see now are reconstructions from 1633. The main hall has a huge veranda that is supported by hundreds of pillars. The view is magnificant.
The japanese have a saying 'jumping of the Kiyomizu' . If you stand on the veranda it will all come clear what the meaning is.
There are many other little shrines and halls on the grounds of the Kiyomizu. For instance the Jishu-jinja. (see next tip)
The temple is open from 6-6 and entrance fee is 300 Yen.

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Directions: Bus 206 0r 207 to Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka and walk uphill for 10 miutes.
Or take the alternative route from the previous tip.

The Jushu shrine is situated next to the Kiyomizu-dera, but is independant.
For 1300 years it is known by the japanese as the dwellingplace of the god of love and matchmaking.
In front of the main building there are two stones about 20 meters apart. If a person walks safely from one stone to the other with closed eyes, his or her love will be realized.
The god of the Jishu shrine is Okuninushi no mikoto. His story goes back to ancient Japan history: A rabbit gained what it wanted by deceiving others, it was forced to peel off its skin. Okuninushi, a sweet tempered god, healed the rabbit. That is why you see a lot of rabbit imagines here.

One can buy many good luck charms here. From 500 Yen and up.

The shrine is open from 9:00 - 17:00. Entrance is free.

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Address: 1-chome, Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Directions: On the grounds of the Kiyomizu-dera
Website: http://www.jishujinja.or.jp (japanese)

The official name of this temple is Rengeo-in. But the popular name Sanju-sangen-do is coming from the form of the main hall. It means a hall with 33 spaces between columns. If that was all it was it was not worth visiting. But inside the hall you will find 1001 images of Kannon, a buddhist deity. A Thjousand standing Kannon and one gigantic sitting image. The statues are made of Japanese cypress and painted. 124 statues are from the 12th century and the others from the 13th century when the hall was renovated. In front of the Kannon are even more statues. There are 30 guardian deities, at one side the god of thunder and at the other side the god of wind. Both gods were worshipped as deities who controlled weather and brought good harvest. The statues are from the Kamakura period (12th-14th century)

The temple was established by a powerfull warrior-politician Taira-no-Kiyomori in 1164. The original building was destroyed by fire, but was reconstructed in 1266. Since then it underwent 4 major reconstructions. The hall is 120 meter long.

It is open from 9:00 to 16:00.
Admission fee is 600 Yen

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Directions: bus 100, 206, 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangen-do mae.
or station Keihan Nanajo

Daitoku Ji is a big temple complex with the famous Daisen In Zen-garden. A garden made out of stone.
When we were there a monk explained the meaning of the garden to us. After that he try to sell something to us and to get our attention he started to sing our national anthem. A great job, considering he didnīt speak dutch, but sang the anthem without any faults....

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