Honno-ji
Kawaramachi, Kyoto
- Daily
- 6:00 to 17:00
Hours are for the grounds, open all year. The Daihoden museum opens 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closes over New Year.
Source: kyoto-honnouji.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Honno-ji is a head temple of the Hokke school, known around the world for the Honno-ji Incident of 1582, when Oda Nobunaga died after his general Akechi Mitsuhide turned on him. That temple stood elsewhere, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi later moved Honno-ji to this site on Teramachi. Its Daihoden museum shows what came through five fires, from a tea bowl Nobunaga owned to the three-legged frog incense burner said to have croaked a warning the night before.
More photos of Honno-ji
Insider tip
The grounds are free and open from 6:00. The Daihoden treasure museum costs ¥700 (¥500 for junior and senior high school students, ¥300 for elementary school students) and closes on exhibition changeover days.
What's on near Honno-ji
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Honno-ji, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Pumpkin Memorial Service at Kyoto Yada-dera
かぼちゃ供養
Time From 10:00
Visitors stroke a pumpkin that has been blessed in the main hall to pray against illness, in a winter solstice tradition at the temple on Teramachi.
Kyo no Satoyama Marche
京の里山マルシェ
Time 10:30 to 15:30 Station Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (Tozai Line), right next to it
Eleven mountain communities of northern Kyoto sell local goods such as rice cakes, honey, pickles, vegetables and charcoal. A relocation advice desk needs no booking.
Mi-gawari Fudo Saito Goma Fire Rite at Hoju-ji
身代不動尊採燈大護摩供
Time Goma rite from 14:00 Station Bus Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, 3 min walk
Masked tengu and red, blue and black demons dance in a procession before a large outdoor fire rite starting at 14:00, at the temple on the site of Emperor Go-Shirakawa's palace.
Gishi-kai Memorial Service at Hoju-ji
義士会法要
Time Service from 10:30 Station Bus Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, 3 min walk
A service on the day of the 47 ronin raid at the temple that holds their wooden statues, with a prayer stick and soba. Entry fee covers the soba or tea.
Art Rhizome KYOTO 2026 (Gyakuryo Kyoto 3)
Art Rhizome KYOTO 2026「逆旅京都3」
Time Hours follow each venue Station Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai, Karasuma Lines)
Works by young Kyoto-linked artists are shown and sold at nine hotels, shops and public buildings around the city, including Kyoto City Hall.
Smaller local events nearby
Kaneyo Yose rakugo night Performance
Last Monday of the month, doors 17:00, show 19:00. Next: Mon 26 Oct · Kyogoku Kaneyo, Kawaramachi
A monthly rakugo night upstairs at the Kyogoku Kaneyo eel restaurant on Rokkaku-dori, with Katsura school storytellers. Advance tickets are by phone only, and bookings for the next month open at 11:30 the day after each show.
3,000 yen, with a 3,000 yen meal voucher for the day · Doors 17:00, show 19:00 · Map · Source: Kyogoku Kaneyo · かねよ寄席
SUNSET SUNDAY at Kyoto City Hall Square Festival
Sun 1 Nov · Kyoto City Hall Square, Kawaramachi
Kyoto DJs and artists, jazz dancers, craft beer, sake, wine, local restaurants and food trucks on the City Hall Square. Admission is free and the day is cancelled in bad weather. A jazz after party follows at CLUB METRO.
Free · 15:00 to 20:00 · Map · Source: SUNSET SUNDAY · SUNSET SUNDAY
Nearby
Around Kawaramachi
Downtown Kyoto, between Nishiki Market and the Kamo River
Kawaramachi is downtown Kyoto, the shopping streets round the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing. The Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades run north from Shijo-dori, Nishiki Market runs west from them, and east of Kawaramachi-dori the Takase canal and Pontocho squeeze in before the Kamo River. You'll come here to eat, mostly. Some of the tea, incense and paper shops date from the Edo period.
Kawaramachi has 26 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 5 shops, 4 cafes, 4 restaurants, 3 shrines and temples, 3 landmarks, 2 bars, 2 neighbourhoods, 1 park or garden, 1 market and 1 bathhouse. Read the Kawaramachi guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Honno-ji?
- 522 Shimo-Honnojimae-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市中京区寺町通御池下ル下本能寺前町522).
- What are the opening hours of Honno-ji?
- Daily 6:00 to 17:00. Hours are for the grounds, open all year. The Daihoden museum opens 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closes over New Year.
- How do I get to Honno-ji?
- The nearest station is Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line). Honno-ji is in Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
- How much does Honno-ji cost?
- Nothing. Honno-ji is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Honno-ji?
- Plan for 45 min.
- When is the best time to visit Honno-ji?
- Early morning.
Stay near Honno-ji
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