Shinnyodo Temple Kyoto
Shinnyodo Temple: read a guide to Shinnyodo Temple in the Yoshidayama area of Kyoto known for its autumn colors and close to Kurodani and Yoshida Shrine.
Shinnyodo Temple, Kyoto 真如堂
Pagoda at Shinnyo-do Temple
A short walk north from Marutamachi from Heian Jingu and Kurodani Temple in Kyoto is the beautiful Tendai-sect temple of Shinnyodo.
Shinnyodo History
Shinnyodo was moved to its present hill-top location from Mount Hiei about a thousand years ago, though the present buildings date from the early eighteenth century.
The large Main Hall contains the standing image of Amitabha Tathagata, which can be viewed by the public only once a year in a special ceremony on November 15th.
The Main Hall also has other priceless treasures including mandalas, six volumes of the Lotus Sutra, paintings of the Onin War (1467-77), which destroyed much of the city of Kyoto at the time and "the Great Picture of Nehan" showing the death of the historical Buddha, Gautama. This painting is shown to the public in March.
Shinnyodo Pagoda, Kyoto
Shinnyodo Main Hall (Hondo)
Fall Colors & Nehan Garden
Shinnyodo is especially well known for its maple leaves in the Fall and the Nehan Garden, which utilizes the borrowed scenery (shakkei) of the Higashiyama Mountains behind it.
There is also a three-story pagoda and a giant bell in the grounds of Shinnyodo Temple, which is rung in turns by visitors on New Year's Eve, a gathering which draws large crowds and has a fantastic atmosphere. Shinnyodo Temple is often used as a film set for samurai dramas as its precincts most resemble an authentic Edo period temple, largely free of crowds during the week.
Shinnyodo entrance gate
Shinnyodo Access - how to get to Shinnyodo Temple
Walk north from the Higashi Tenno-cho bus stop on Marutamachi or south from the Ginkakuji-michi stop on Kita-Shirakawa. Shinnyodo is on the east side of Yoshidayama to the east of Kyoto University Hyakumanben Campus.
Shinnyodo
96 Okiku, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 761 0535
Shinnyodo is on the east side of Yoshidayama. Walk west back over Yoshidayama to get to Yoshida Shrine and the main campus of Kyoto University.
Walk due south to Kurodani Temple and Heian Shrine. Walking east takes you to Shirakawa dori and from there south to Nanzenji or north to Honen-in, Philosopher's Walk and eventually Ginkakuji.
Tour buses cannot navigate the narrow streets leading to Shinnyodo Temple so you should have the temple to yourself unless you visit on weekends or during the autumn, when the temple's maple trees are in full crimson color.
Shinnyodo Temple, Kyoto
Shinnyodo Temple Pond
