Higashi Hongan-ji
Kyoto Station, Kyoto
1 Nov to 29 Feb
- Daily
- 6:20 to 16:30
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 5:50 to 17:30
Source: higashihonganji.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
The head temple of the Otani branch of Jodo Shinshu, founded here in 1602 on land Tokugawa Ieyasu gave it. Both great halls burned in the fighting of 1864, and the Goei-do and Amida-do you walk into today were finished in 1895.
More photos of Higashi Hongan-ji
Insider tip
Entry's free and you don't need to book. The temple invites you inside both halls. It's 7 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station, and its garden, Shosei-en, is a few blocks east.
What the guides say about Higashi Hongan-ji
You won't be short of things to do on your doorstep either. Higashi Hongan-ji is 7 minutes north on foot and free, and Honke Daiichi Asahi serves ramen from 6:00. The catch is the crowd. Kyoto City's tourism site even tells visitors to avoid getting off at JR Kyoto Station when they can.
The Kyoto Imperial Palace is free and you don't need to book (it's closed Mondays). English tours start at 10:00 and 14:00. From October 2026 its Shishinden throne hall is under a repair of about nine years. Higashi Hongan-ji, 7 minutes on foot from the station, is free too. See free things to do in Kyoto.
What's on at Higashi Hongan-ji
Upcoming events at Higashi Hongan-ji, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Hyakka Sosaku-sai Craft Festa (October)
百貨創作祭クラフトフェスタ
Time 10:00 to 16:00
An exhibition and sale of works by individual makers on the multipurpose green in front of Higashi Honganji.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 NEO Marche at Oto-san Hiroba
NEO MARCHE
Time 10:00 to 16:00
A weekday market of handmade goods, traditional crafts, second-hand clothes and food trucks on the multipurpose green in front of Higashi Honganji.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS at Higashi Honganji and Shosei-en
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS 東本願寺・渉成園
Time 18:00 to 22:00 (Higashi Honganji last entry 21:00) Station Gojo (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk
NAKED lights Higashi Honganji and its detached garden Shosei-en for an evening walk through five scenes. Adult tickets are ¥2,100 Monday to Thursday and ¥2,300 Friday to Sunday and on holidays (¥200 less in advance), and from 6 to 8 Nov and on 25 Nov only Shosei-en is open.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 MATSURI CROSSING Kyoto x Brasil
MATSURI CROSSING Kyoto × Brasil
A three-day Kyoto and Brazil culture exchange with music and dance performances, hands-on workshops and a food market, co-organised by Higashi Honganji.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Culture in Vibration: Higashi Honganji Grounds Special Stage
Culture in Vibration 東本願寺境内スペシャルステージ
Time 18:00 to 20:30 (doors 17:00) Station Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line), 7 min walk
Two evening concerts in the temple grounds with Brazilian artists and Aikawa Nanase, as part of MATSURI CROSSING Kyoto x Brasil, standing admission.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Smaller local events nearby
Higashi Honganji-mae Marche (Monozukuri Ryokuchi) Market
Sat 31 Oct · Oto-san Hiroba (Higashi Honganji-mae civic green), Kyoto Station
About 150 booths of handmade goods and sweets plus six food trucks on the green in front of Higashi Honganji, with free acoustic live music from noon.
Free entry · Map · Source: Monocro (Mono-zukuri Crossroad) · 東本願寺前マルシェ～ものづくりRyokuchi～
Yamashiro Marche at Kyoto Porta Market
6 to 7 Nov · Kyoto Porta, Kyoto Station
A two-day marche in the Kyoto Station underground mall selling farm produce and processed foods from the Yamashiro area south of Kyoto.
11:00 to 19:00 · Map · Source: Kyoto Prefecture Yamashiro regional office · 山城マルシェ in 京都ポルタ
Nearby
Around Kyoto Station
Free temples and late ramen a few minutes from the platforms
Most visitors only see Kyoto Station on the way in or out, which is a shame. Higashi Hongan-ji is 7 minutes north on foot and free, To-ji's pagoda is 15 minutes south, and at the railway museum to the west a working steam engine will pull you along. After dark, 15,000 LEDs light the station's 171-step staircase.
Kyoto Station has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 4 shrines and temples, 4 museums, 3 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 cafes, 2 parks and gardens, 2 bathhouses, 1 bar, 1 landmark, 1 viewpoint and 1 market. Read the Kyoto Station guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Higashi Hongan-ji?
- Karasuma-dori Shichijo-agaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市下京区烏丸通七条上る).
- What are the opening hours of Higashi Hongan-ji?
- 1 Nov to 29 Feb: Daily 6:20 to 16:30. Rest of the year: Daily 5:50 to 17:30.
- How do I get to Higashi Hongan-ji?
- The nearest station is Gojo (Karasuma Line). Higashi Hongan-ji is in Kyoto Station, Kyoto.
- How much does Higashi Hongan-ji cost?
- Nothing. Higashi Hongan-ji is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Higashi Hongan-ji?
- Plan for 45 min.
- When is the best time to visit Higashi Hongan-ji?
- Early morning.
Stay near Higashi Hongan-ji
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