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Nishi Honganji Temple is a large temple compound located north west of Kyoto Station with many beautiful buildings of historical and architectural significance. It is one of two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism in Kyoto. Both of these temples are called Honganji, and so are distinguished by their location: Nishi Honganji being the western temple, and Higashi Honganji being the eastern temple. The Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism was founded by the monk Shinran who lived from 1173 to 1263

The Karamon is a gate of

Nishi Hongan-ji

Nishi Honganji’s outer walls

The Goeido-mon is the main entrance to Nishi Honganji

The Goeido-mon

Toro is a hexagonal lantern usually hung from the temple ceiling. Normally the name of the member who donated these lanterns is engraved on them

A dragon hiding under the Toro hexagonal lantern

The Goeido-mon details

The Goeido-mon

The Amidado-mon

The Amidado-mon is situated further to the north of the main entrance

The Amidado-mon

The Amidado-mon

The Amidado-monDetails

© Michael Swerdlyk

Kyoto Nishi Honganji is designated an UNESCO world heritage site

The Amida-do or Amida Hall was completed in 1760

The Amida-do or Amida Hall is the main worship hall, or hondo, of the temple

The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall, was completed in 1636

The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall Four little imps are supporting the stone rain barrel

The wooden walkway that connects the Founder’s Hall and the Amida Hall

The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall is a registered Japan National Treaure

Though not as big as the Founder’s Hall at nearby Higashi Honganji Temple, the Goei-do is still a huge building measuring 62 meters long by 48 meters wide with a height of 29 meters

This ornate Shoro, or bell tower, is situated in the south east corner of the temple compound. It was built in 1620, but the bell predates that, and was originally the bell of Koryuji Temple in western Kyoto

The Drum Tower

The Kyōzō or Scripture Repository

The Drum Tower

The Kyōzō or

Scripture Repository

The Kyōzō or Scripture Repository was completed in 1678 and holds a huge collection of Buddhist scriptural texts compiled by the monk Tenkai. Nishi Honganji bought the collection from the Tokugawa government in 1648 for 100 kilograms of silver

Nishi Honganji

Nishi Honganji’s roofs

The fountain and Ginko Biloba tree

The Shoin, a building that houses the abbot’s rooms

The Hiunkaku Pavilion

The reason there are now two Honganji temples in Kyoto is simply political. In the early 17th century, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Shogun who ruled Japan, encouraged a schism between two rival factions of the Honganji lineage, so that the group as a whole would not become too powerful

There are 2 gigantic gingo trees in the courtyard in front of the halls

The huge gingko tree that is estimated to be over 400 years old. Also known as the maidenhair tree is a prominent tree for autumn colors. Its leaves with a unique fan-shaped with veins radiating out into the leaf blade and sometimes splitting turns to deep saffron yellow during autumn

There is a legend that when the temple caught fire, the tree actually showered the buildings with water from its leaves and saved the temple from the flames. If you are lucky enough to visit the temple in mid to late November, then you can see the tree in its full autumn glory bearing a wonderful crown of golden leaves

Nishi Honganji’s roofs details

Nishi Honganji’s roofs details

Text: InternetPictures: Internet Nicoleta LeuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Japan Instrumental Music 2016