Pay a visit to Chion-in Temple, the main temple of the Jodo-shu branch of Buddhism. Established in 1234 CE by a pupil of Honen, the founder of the first independent branch of Japanese "Pure Land Buddhism," the temple features a large main gate dating back to the 17th century, and a temple bell so large it takes a 25-strong team to ring it. During your visit to the temple, which burnt down in 1633, note the umbrella placed in the rafters outside the main hall. It was put there by one of the architects who rebuilt the temple, in the hope of attracting rain and resisting fire. Plan your visit to Chion-in Temple and a wealth of other attractions, well-known and undiscovered, using our Kyoto tour itinerary maker tool.
Create an itinerary including Chion-in Temple
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors
Tours to Chion-in Temple
Chion-in Temple reviews
-
Chion-in Temple is one of the main highlights in Kyoto which (in my opinion) should not be miss. This Temple is absolutely worth visiting. However itcan get too crowded during the day. So I recommen..... more »
-
I am not particularly knowledgeable about this temple and can't say much about the history or distinctiveness of it in comparison to other sights in Kyoto, but what struck me about it was the... more »
-
Amazing experience, even though the main building was closed for repairs. There is a nice tour featuring two gardens, several shrines and cemeteries for about 600 yen per person. Also, there was not that many people here
-
first of all, i went to chion-in on new years eve for joya no kane — the ringing of the bell. it was a fantastic experience. please go early (like, before 8:30pm) and dress warmly. we waited in line for 3 hours but it was worth seeing. we went back on jan 2 during the day. its a climb to get in the normal way, but they do have buses that take people up and down for free!
Plan your trip to Kyoto
Get a personalized trip
A complete day by day itinerary
based on your preferencesCustomize it
Refine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedulesBook it
Choose from the best hotels
and activities. Up to 50% offManage it
Everything in one place.
Everyone on the same page.
Popular things to do in Kyoto
Historic Sites in Kyoto
Side trips from Kyoto
Shopping in Kyoto
Hidden gems in Kyoto
Nearby attractions in Kyoto
Trips to Chion-in Temple by other users
22 days in Japan
BY A USER FROM BRAZIL
Tokyo
Kamakura
Kanazawa
21 days in Japan
BY A USER FROM PHILIPPINES
Fukuoka
Beppu
Hita
24 days in Japan
BY A USER FROM ITALY
Tokyo
Kamakura
Nikko
25 days in Japan
BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA
Tokyo
Hiroshima
Kyoto
8 days in Kyoto
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design
Kodai-ji Temple
Sanjusangendo Temple
60 days in Japan
BY A USER FROM CANADA
Shari-cho
Nikko
Tokyo
