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Chion-in Temple Night Illumination and Night Viewing
Chion-in Temple Night Illumination and Night Viewing
Night Illumination and Night Viewing at Chion-in Temple is presented here. Chion-in Temple offers night illumination (lighting up) and night viewing during the cherry blossom season in the spring and the fall foliage season in the autumn. Chion-in Temple also holds Gyoki-daie (Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki) in April and Jyoya-no-Kane on December 31st.
【Chion-in Temple Night Illumination and Night Viewing 2023 Schedule】
★Spring Illumination (Cherry Blossoms) : March 24th (Friday) – April 2nd (Sunday), 2023, 17:45 – 21:30 (Registration closes at 21:00)
★Autumn Illumination (Autumn Leaves) : November 16th (Thursday) – December 2nd (Saturday), 2023, 17:30 – 21:30 (Registration closes at 21:00)
★Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki : 20:00 on April 18th (Thursday) to 7:00 on April 19th (Wednesday), 2023
★Jyoya-no-Kane : 22:40 on December 31st (Sunday), 2023 (open at 20:00 and close at around 23:00)
【Chion-in Temple Location Map & Directions】
Address: 400 Rinka-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Chionin-mae bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Keihan Gion-Shijo Station (about 15 minutes on foot), Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station (about 18 minutes on foot), Subway Higashiyama Station (about 8 minutes on foot)
【Chion-in Temple Night Illumination and Night Viewing brief overview】
Chion-in Temple offers night illumination (lighting up) and night viewing during the cherry blossom season in the spring and the fall foliage season in the autumn. Chion-in Temple also holds Gyoki-daie (Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki) in April and Jyoya-no-Kane on December 31st. Incidentally, Gion-no-Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry Tree of Gion) is planted in Maruyama Park located on the south side of Chion-in Temple, and Gion-no-Shidarezakura are also illuminated. We recommend that you visit both Chion-in Temple and Maruyama Park on the same day. Chion-in Temple is famous for its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, so many tourists visit during the cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn leaves season. Chion-in Temple is located near Gion, which is Kyoto’s representative Hanamachi (Kagai) district and the downtown, and is popular with tourists. Visitors can enjoy eating, drinking, and sightseeing in Gion and then visit Chion-in Temple, or enjoy eating and drinking after visiting Chion-in Temple.
【Spring Illumination (Cherry Blossoms, 桜) and Night Viewing】
Chion-in Temple is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Kyoto. About 200 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, Kan-zakura, Yama-zakura, Shidare-zakura, Shiki-zakura, and Yae-zakura, are planted in the vast precinct of Chion-in, and the best time to see the cherry blossoms is usually from late March to early April. (The best time to see the cherry blossoms depends on the climate of the year.) It is said that San-mon Gate and Yuzen-en Garden decorated with cherry blossoms are beautiful. Two weeping cherry trees are planted in Yuzen-en Garden, one is light pink and the other is slightly darker pink, and the dark pink cherry tree is named “Miyuki” after the donor.
Spring illumination (lighting up) and night viewing (night opening) are held from late March to early April, when the cherry blossoms are at their best. The period is about 10 days. The illuminated San-mon Gate and Yuzen-en Garden are said to be beautiful. Events may be held during the spring illumination period.
Spring illumination ticket price : Adults 800 yen, Junior High and Elementary School Students 400 yen (as of 2023)
知恩院桜ライトアップ (Chion-in Temple Spring Illumination)
【Autumn Illumination (Autumn Leaves, 紅葉) and Night Viewing】
Chion-in Temple is a popular autumn leaves viewing spot in Kyoto. At Chion-in Temple, Japanese maple trees, ginkgo, Japanese maple, zelkova, beech, azalea, etc. are distributed at the foot of Mt. Kachozan, which belongs to the Higashiyama-sajyuropo, and the best time to see the autumn leaves is usually from mid-November to late November. (The best time to see the fall foliage depends on the climate of the year.) It is said that San-mon Gate, Yuzen-en Garden, and Onna-zaka colored with autumn leaves are beautiful. There are also places in the district where you can take a break.
Autumn illumination (lighting up) and night viewing (night opening) are held from mid-November to early December, when the fall foliage is at its best. The period is about 2 weeks. In Yuzen-en Garden, the statue of Sho-Kannon Bosatsu by Takamura Koun, built in Fudarakuike Pond, is said to be beautiful. The opening event may be held during the autumn illumination period.
Autumn illumination ticket price : Adults 800 yen, Junior High and Elementary School Students 400 yen (as of 2023)
知恩院紅葉ライトアップ (Chion-in Temple Autumn Illumination)
【Gyoki-daie (御忌大会) and Night Viewing】
Gyoki-daie is held every year from April 18th to 25th. Gyoki-daie is the most important memorial service for Honen-shonin, the founder of the Jodo sect, and is derived from the Chion-ko held by his disciples on the anniversary of his death. At Gyoki-daie, Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki, Kacho-ryu Kenka-shiki, Kencha-shiki. Hojo-e and other events is held. Incidentally, at Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki, Betsuji Nenbutsu-e is held at midnight at San-mon Gate, to commemorate the virtues of Honen-shonin. Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki is said to have begun in 1997.
Honen-shonin is said to have been born in 1133 in Mimasaka Province (Okayama Prefecture) as the son of Uruma Tokikuni and Hatauji-no-Kimi Seitoji. In 1141, his father was murdered, and he shaved his hair under his maternal uncle, the monk Kangaku, and in 1145, he entered Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple and studied Tendai under Genko. In 1150, he had doubts about Tendai, etc. and trained under Eikyu at Saito Kurotani, where he was named Honenbou Genku. After 20 years of study, he reached the “Shomyo Nenbutsu”, which is to chant “Namu Amida Butsu”, from “Kanmuryo Jukyosho” written by Zendo, a monk of the Chinese Jodo sect, and “Ojo Yoshu” written by Eshin-sozu Genshin, a monk of the Tendai sect, and founded the Jodo sect. He preached to men and women of all ages that if they believed in Amida Buddha and chanted “Namu Amida Butsu”, they would be able to live equally after death regardless of good or evil, but he was persecuted by Kofuku-ji Temple and Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple when a female officer was ordained, and in 1207, he was sent to Sanuki (Kagawa), after which he was pardoned and returned to Kyoto. He died in 1212 at Higashiyama Otani.
【Jyoya-no-Kane (除夜の鐘) and Night Viewing】
Jyoya-no-Kane is held every year on December 31st. In general, the Bonsho (temple bell) is struck 108 times on Jyoya-no-Kane to remove earthly desires and welcome the New Year with a pure heart. Jyoya-no-Kane is struck by monks, and general visitors are only allowed to observe. Bonsho (temple bell) is one of the largest in Japan, measuring 3.3 meters in height, 2.8 meters in diameter, and weighing 70 tons, so it is struck by one monk for the main rope and 16 monks for auxiliary rope.
Dai-Shoro (large bell tower) was built in 1678. Bonsho (temple bell) was cast in 1636. Bonsho is said to be one of the three largest temple bells in Japan, along with the temple bell of Todai-ji Temple in Nara and the temple bell of Hoko-ji Temple in Kyoto.
【Chion-in Temple brief overview】
Chion-in Temple (知恩院) is said to have originated in 1175 when Honen-shonin, the founder of the Jodo sect, established a hermitage in Yoshimizu near Seishido. The hermitage became the dojo for the practice of Senju-Nenbutsu and was called “Yoshimizu Gobo” or “Otani Zenbou”. However, due to the Jogen-no-Honan, Honen-shonin was exiled to Sanuki Province (Kagawa Prefecture) from 1207 to 1211, after which he returned to Otani Zenbou. Incidentally, the Jogen-no-Honan occurred when the 82nd Emperor Go-Toba went to Kumano, and his favorite courtesans Suzumushi and Matsumushi were so impressed by the teachings of Honen’s disciples, Anraku and Jyuren, that they became ordained monks, so Anraku and Jyuren were beheaded, and Honen-shonin was exiled to Sanuki Province.
Chion-in Temple (location,history)
【Chion-in Temple Night Illumination and Night Viewing remarks】
Always check with the organizer for event information. Information on this site is for reference only. Contents of the event may have changed.
京都紅葉ライトアップ2025