Chion-in, built in 1234 where Honen taught and eventually died, comprises a temple gate (Japan’s largest) and two halls, with some areas of the temple dating back to the 17th century. Visitors will also find two gardens on the grounds: a traditional Japanese landscape garden and another garden centered on a pond. One notable feature is the nightingale floor extending between the two halls; the floor planks “chirp” when stepped on to help alert the monks of potential intruders.
Chion-in is located north of Maruyama Park in southeast Kyoto. Buses run to Chion-in from the city center, and the closest train station is a 10-minute walk away at Higashiyama.
The temple is open daily from 9am to 4:30pm, and since it isn’t as well-known as other Kyoto temples, it doesn’t tend to get crowded.
A flight of stairs leads from the temple’s main hall to its giant bell, the largest in Japan. The 77-ton behemoth, cast in 1633, rings 108 times on New Year’s Eve to release worshippers from the 108 worldly desires of the previous year. It requires 17 monks to ring it.
