[2024 Kyoto Attraction] Travel Guide for Chion-in Temple (Updated Nov)

Explore Kyoto's Nighttime Autumn Foliage in 2023

Japanese people cherish the unique features of each season, much like how everyone enjoys cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in spring, they also indulge in autumn leaf viewing (momijigari) in fall. While there are beautiful spots for autumn leaves from Hokkaido to Kyushu, Kyoto remains the most popular destination for this experience. Kyoto's autumn is a season of vibrant colors, and whether you visit famous landmarks or hidden gems, the city exudes an enchanting autumn charm. If you've already admired the daytime beauty of the colorful mountains, why not take a different path and experience the unique beauty of Japan's nighttime autumn foliage? During the autumn foliage season, many temples and shrines in Kyoto host special evening illuminations and events. Here is a list of announced nighttime viewing spots and schedules for this year: 🍁Hougen-in: November 11 to December 3 🏮 Kodaiji Temple: October 21 to December 10 🏯 Eikando Temple: November 3 to December 3 ⛩ Chion-in Temple: November 16 to December 2 🍁 Kiyomizu-dera Temple: November 18 to November 30 💧 Hosen-in Temple: November 3 to December 3 💫 Kibune Shrine: November 3 to November 26 ⛩ Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: November 11 to December 3 🏯 Toji Temple: November 1 to December 10 🌳 Sagano Scenic Railway: Mid-October to late December 🚂 Kinkaku-ji Temple: November 15 to December 3 🔔 Unfortunately, this year, the nighttime events at Shoren-in, Shogunzuka Seiryu-den, and Nanzen-ji Temple have been canceled. · To fully enjoy the breathtaking autumn scenery in Kyoto and its surroundings, it's recommended to rent a car. This way, you can avoid the crowded public transport and explore at your own pace, enhancing your experience. If you're interested, feel free to contact #JapanTravel #JapanCarRental #KyotoTravel #AutumnFoliage #OsakaTravel #TravelGuide

Chionin Temple

#japantrip Amazing temple complex! The first gate is so huge, and the temples inside are beautiful and well-preserved. There were only a handful of people when I visited (weekday noon). I was the only person walking around in some parts of the place. It has no entrance free, except for the gardens, which were also worth visiting. There are toilets and vending machines for drinks available. For people with issues climbing up stairs, I think they can take a taxi up to the part near the Great Bell Tower. And from there, most of the stairs they need to take are going down.

Exploring Kyoto: Chion-in Temple

Chion-in Temple is a historic temple in Kyoto, built on the site where Honen Shonin, the founder of the Jodo sect, spread the teachings of Nembutsu and passed away. Its official name is Kachozan Chionkyo-in Otani-dera, and it serves as the head temple of the Jodo sect. Chion-in Sanmon Gate Standing at 24 meters tall and 50 meters wide, with approximately 70,000 roof tiles, this is one of the largest wooden gates in Japan. It was constructed in 1621 by order of the second Tokugawa shogun, Hidetada. Visitors can climb to the upper level to enjoy views of the entire Gion area. The interior of the upper level serves as a Buddha hall, housing important cultural property statues. The ceilings, pillars, and walls are vividly decorated with images of Karura (mythical birds), celestial maidens, and flying dragons.

Nice temple complex located

The Chion-in temple complex is in our top 7 of temple complexes we have visited in Japan. It's a big complex where you can spend some time if you want to look at everything. We actually came during a religious ceremony inside the main temple which is open to the public! Overall, Chion-in Temple is definitely worth a visit and we were very glad we walked around this amazing complex (even better during the rain)!

Symphony Sakura: Chionin Chion is located in the center of Kyoto, next to Yasaka Shrine, the largest of the Kyoto temples, and the largest three in Japan. Zhinyuan has always been a must-see for cherry blossom viewing. Every season, there will be lanterns. I also went to see the maple leaves last year. It is very beautiful. This year's cherry blossom season is more worth seeing than maple leaves. what! In fact, the Zhienyuan is very eye-catching. It can be seen that the biggest three gates in Kyoto (Fig. 2) have climbed up once before, and the whole person is panting. Climbing the hands and feet in front of me and using them, almost one step at a time, one step at a time to rest, the stairs are the steepest stairs I have ever climbed. The three gates look at the scenery of the Yasaka Shrine, and you can see the nearby Kyoto Tower. The night is very beautiful. After getting started, you can go to Youyuan, and the biggest attraction of Youyuan is the dry garden and the weeping cherry. The light of the Zhienyuan is partial magenta, and the pink color of the cherry blossoms is very good, and the night is very dreamy. This is the that can't be seen in the lanterns of other temples. You can see the Yuyingtang (Fig. 6) and the assembly hall (Fig. 7). Many people in the Yuyingtang are listening to the lectures. The history of the Connaught Institute, the lighting of the assembly hall may be the most fashionable temple lighting I have ever seen. It is actually perfect to combine the modern brilliance with the ancient temple, like re-giving the ancient temples. After watching the main hall, you can look back at the three gates (Fig. 8). The steps are very thoughtfully marked with cherry blossoms. The three steps are also people, three doors. The cherry blossoms here are very good, the cherry trees are pink and purple, and the Japanese girls are sighing again and again. Beautiful dreams~ strongly recommend the cherry blossom season, dont miss it. Information Address: 400 Special homage at night in Shiraishi-machi, Higashiyama, Kyoto: 17

Go to the Chien Institute and board the three gates overlooking the city view of Kyoto Zhi En Yuan is very close to the gate of Qinglianyuan, you can visit together. This historic temple is the main mountain of the Pure Land of Japan. The three gates built in 1621 are the largest wooden double doors in Japan, 24 meters high. The night visits of the golden autumn can be found in three cloisters, overlooking Kyoto from a height. The city view is not really bright, but it also conforms to the Kyoto style. The garden next to the "Yuan Chan Court" is also famous for its red leaves. This visit, the promotion method of the autumn lighting event is a bit of a surprise: there is a band performance by a monk, a photo with a big photo board, a prize submission on a social networking site, etc., then the fashion is a bit subtle~

The largest temple in Kyoto, the total mountain of the Pure Land of Japan, spans multiple blocks, with three doors (the largest mountain gate in Japan), the ancient gate, the new gate. The three gates are like the city tower, and you can see the panoramic view of Kyoto City. Originally, I wanted to visit the special open abbot courtyard, but I missed the closing time and could only squander. There are clubs in the Chion-in Temple to provide accommodation and accommodation. Those who stay in the hall can attend morning classes in the temple.

Founded in the late Heian period in Japan, the Kyoto Chion is the founder of the Faun, the largest of the temples in Kyoto, and the total mountain of the Pure Land. Founded by the French Masters in 1175, the main hall can accommodate more than 3,000 people. The largest gate in Japan and the largest giant clock in Japan, weighing 74 tons, requires 17 monks to work hard to ring it. The three gates built in 1621 (Yuan and 7) are the largest mountain gates in Japan. The height of the mountain gate is 24 meters, and the three facades of the Zhienyuan are 50 meters wide, and the black tile roof of the mountain is repeated. The three teachings symbolize the "emptiness", "no phase", and "no wish" Buddhist and Taoist practice. (The other one is said to be "three unwinding doors". It is said that people who are confused must pass this door to get rid of it.) Because each night maple viewing place is crowded with night-time maple people, and the shooting time is limited, so in a dark environment Next, using a lightweight tripod, plus a solid stone pier, it is not difficult to take a satisfactory photo of the night maple with a small space.