The original temple complex contained seven buildings, but fires throughout the centuries destroyed much of the original architecture. Today three outstanding buildings remain: the Dharma Hall, the principal building; a tea house; and the Imperial Messenger Gate. The gate dates back to the 12th or 13th centuries; marks from stray arrows during battles can still be seen today. Kennin-ji boasts a tranquil Zen garden. Numerous tours stop here, particularly those focusing on religion, architecture, and garden design.
The temple is located on Hanamikoji Street in the tourist-friendly “Geisha District” of Gion, just around the corner from Marauyama Park. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Gion Shijo Station on Kyoto's Keihan line and from Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.
Like many temples in Kyoto, Kennin-ji's hours vary between seasons. The temple is typically open during the day, with slightly longer hours in March through October. The temple is closed from December 28-31. Go first thing in the morning to avoid crowds and note that admission ends half an hour before closing.
The Five Mountains of Kyoto is a system inspired by South China's erstwhile "five mountain system" in which five state-sponsored Zen temples were created to help the government influence temples. In Japan, this system was used to promote Zen practices and gain political control. Kennin-ji was one such temple, along with Tenryu-ji, Shokoku-ji, Tofuku-ji, and Manju-ji, all of which stand to this day.
