Chion-in
Gion, Kyoto
- Daily
- 6:00 to 16:00
Garden tickets from 9:00. Hojo garden entry until 15:50, Yuzen-en until 16:00. Gate times change on some ceremony days.
Source: chion-in.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Chion-in is the head temple of Jodo Shu, where the founder Honen taught and spent his last years. You walk in through the Sanmon, built in 1621, about 24 metres tall and 50 metres wide under some 70,000 roof tiles, one of the largest wooden gates in Japan. The 70-tonne bell, cast in 1636, rings 108 times on New Year's Eve, swung by a team of 17.
More photos of Chion-in
Insider tip
The grounds are free and open at 6:00. The Hojo garden is ¥400 and Yuzen-en ¥300, or ¥500 for both. The Sanmon's upper floor opens only for special viewings, including 31 October to 13 November 2026 (¥1,000). No photos or recording inside the halls.
What the guides say about Chion-in
6. Gion, early and again at dusk. Yasaka Shrine's grounds never close, and Chion-in, just beyond Maruyama Park, opens its grounds free at 6:00. Come back at dusk for Hanamikoji-dori and the canal at Gion Shirakawa. Don't stop, touch, follow or photograph a geiko or maiko without asking. The district's own rules say so. And stay out of anything that isn't a shop or the road.
9. Walk the east side, and cycle by the rules. For Kiyomizu-dera, the tourism site suggests the Tozai Line to Higashiyama and a walk south past Shoren-in, Chion-in and Maruyama Park. The centre's flat and laid out in a grid, so cycling's easy. Ride on the left, and don't leave the bike on the street. Bikes parked outside designated lots get removed, and it's ¥3,500 to get one back.
What's on at Chion-in
Upcoming events at Chion-in, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Manbu-e at Chion-in
萬部会（知恩院）
Time Reception 9:00 to 16:00, daytime service 10:30, evening service 13:30 Station Chion-in-mae bus stop (City Bus 206), 5 min walk
Chion-in holds memorial services in the Mieido hall over three days, with a daytime service at 10:30 and an evening service at 13:30.
Christian Kadluba, CC BY-SA 2.0 Chion-in Sanmon Gate Special Opening
京都非公開文化財特別公開 知恩院 三門
Station Chion-in-mae bus stop (City Bus 206), 5 min walk
Chion-in's Sanmon, the giant gate built in 1621 on the orders of the second Tokugawa shogun, opens to visitors from 31 Oct to 13 Nov as part of the Kyoto Non-public Cultural Properties Special Opening. Hours and admission for this site are not yet published.
Christian Kadluba, CC BY-SA 2.0 Chion-in Autumn Light-up
知恩院 秋のライトアップ2026
Station Chion-in-mae bus stop (City Bus 206), 5 min walk
Chion-in's autumn light-up runs from 17 Nov to 6 Dec. The temple's own page says the 2026 details are not yet published, so hours, admission and the lit areas are still to come.
Christian Kadluba, CC BY-SA 2.0 Nurekami Daimyojin Grand Festival at Chion-in
濡髪大明神大祭（知恩院）
Time 14:00 start Station Chion-in-mae bus stop (City Bus 206), 5 min walk
Monks burn the wish sticks collected over the year at the Nurekami Daimyojin shrine behind Seishido hall.
Christian Kadluba, CC BY-SA 2.0 Cultural property repair site open day at Chion-in
京都府文化財建造物修理現場公開 知恩院
Time 9:30, 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00 Station City bus stop Chion-in-mae, about 20 min walk
Guided look at a building under repair at Chion-in, with explanations by Kyoto Prefecture cultural property staff, in four sessions. Free, about one hour each.
Christian Kadluba, CC BY-SA 2.0 Smaller local events nearby
Betsuji Nenbutsu-e at Chion-in Festival
Sun 25 Oct, Wed 25 Nov, Fri 25 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
Chion-in holds a nenbutsu service at Honen's mausoleum on the 25th of each month, the monthly memorial day, from 11:30 to 12:30.
Map · Source: Chion-in · 別時念仏会（知恩院）
Juya-e service at Chion-in Festival
5 to 6 Nov (dates to be confirmed) · Chion-in, Gion
Chion-in holds the old-style Juya-e, also called the Kanezane-ki, in the Miedo hall on 5 and 6 November, listed as open for worship.
Map · Source: Chion-in · 十夜会古式（兼実忌）（知恩院）
Nearby
Around Gion
The teahouse streets below Yasaka Shrine, best early or at dusk
Gion grew up as the town at the gate of Yasaka Shrine, and it's still where Kyoto's geiko and maiko live and work. Gion Kobu, the largest of the city's five geiko districts, keeps its teahouses along Hanamikoji-dori, and the Shirakawa canal runs through Gion Shinbashi to the north. Go early for the shrine and the temples behind it. Come back at dusk for the streets.
Gion has 25 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 6 shrines and temples, 4 shops, 4 neighbourhoods, 3 cafes, 2 landmarks, 2 restaurants, 1 bar, 1 museum, 1 park or garden and 1 bathhouse. Read the Gion guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Chion-in?
- 400 Rinka-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市東山区林下町400).
- What are the opening hours of Chion-in?
- Daily 6:00 to 16:00. Garden tickets from 9:00. Hojo garden entry until 15:50, Yuzen-en until 16:00. Gate times change on some ceremony days.
- How do I get to Chion-in?
- The nearest station is Higashiyama (Tozai Line). Chion-in is in Gion, Kyoto.
- How much does Chion-in cost?
- Nothing. Chion-in is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Chion-in?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Chion-in?
- Early morning.
Stay near Chion-in
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