What other travelers are saying about Chion-in Temple
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.
Monastery of Gratitude, the headquarters of the Pure Land Sect. Built first in 1234. The present buildings date back to the XII century.
Numerous photo opportunities. Check out the raised terraces between the buildings.
There's an old gable ornament on the ground in one of the court yards. You can match it to the existing one on the roof.
The temple has Japan's largest temple bell.
This is a nice place to walk when you feel anti social, great escape from the hustle and bustle city of Kyoto. There’s an option to just walk around the temple on your pace without paying anything.There are 2 gardens where you can visit with ¥500 entrance fee although the gardens are not that big.
We next visited Chionin Temple, the main temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, one of Japan's largest Buddhist schools. The temple grounds are expansive, filled with impressive architecture and smaller buildings. It’s a peaceful place, with lots of history and culture to absorb as you stroll around.
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Lovely large temple complex with very nice walkway between the shrines, perfectly maintained and much less crowded than other similarly sized temples. Lavishly decorated from the monumental gate towards the main buildings.