Honnō-ji Temple

Welcome to Honnō-ji, a site of immense historical gravity nestled surprisingly in the modern heart of Kyoto. As you step through the traditional wooden gate off the busy Teramachi shopping street, you are entering a space that…

To your left as you enter the precinct stands the Honnō-ji Daihoden, or the Great Treasure Museum. This modern facility serves as a repository for the cultural assets that have survived the temple’s many fires. …

Directly in front of you is the Hondo, or Main Hall. This impressive structure is where the primary religious services are conducted. …

Tucked away near one of the smaller shrines on the grounds is a unique and curious monument: the 'Mitsu-ashi-no-kaeru,' or the Three-Legged Frog. This statue is central to one of the most famous legends of the Honnō-ji Incident. …

Behind the Main Hall, in a quiet and shaded corner of the precinct, lies the mausoleum and grave monument of Oda Nobunaga. This site was reportedly established by his son to honor the father who transformed the course of Japanese…

Honnō-ji is not just a single building; it is a complex that contains seven smaller 'sub-temples' or shrines within its walls. As you walk along the side of the Main Hall, you will see a row of these smaller structures, each with…

As you head toward the back gate of the temple, look for a large and ancient ginkgo tree, distinguished by a sacred straw rope—'shimenawa'—wrapped around its trunk. This tree is more than just a piece of landscaping; it is a…

To truly complete the Honnō-ji journey, one must leave the current temple and walk approximately 20 minutes west to the Kamigyo district. You are now standing at the 'original fundamental spot' where the historic temple stood in…

As we conclude our tour and step back out into the vibrant 'busy streets' of Kyoto, take one last look at the gate of Honnō-ji. You have explored a place that is as much about the future as it is about the past. …