Honno-ji Temple, Oda Nobunaga

The information about Honno-ji Temple is presented here. Honno-ji Temple is known for the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident), in which Oda Nobunaga, who sought to unify the country during the Azuchi Momoyama period (1573-1603), committed suicide due to a rebellion by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide. However, at the time of the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident), Honno-ji Temple was located at a different site (Moto Honnoji-cho, Nakagyo-ku) than its present location, and tiles and other items that were believed to have been burned were found in the remains of a moat at the site.

• Temple Location Map ＆ Directions
• Temple History
• Temple Highlights

【Honno-ji Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 522 Honnojimae-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Kawaramachi Sanjo bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Subway Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (about 3 minutes on foot), Keihan Sanjo Station (about 6 minutes on foot), Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station (about 12 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 6:00-17:00
Treasure Hall: 9:00-17:00
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual (Treasure Hall): Adults 500 yen, High School and Junior High School Students 300 yen, Elementary School Students 250 yen, Students on School Excursion 200 yen

【Honno-ji Temple History】

Honno-ji Temple (本能寺) was founded in 1415 when Nichiryu-shonin left Myohon-ji Temple due to a conflict with Getsumai-shonin, the 5th head monk of Myohon-ji Temple, and built Honno-ji Temple (本応寺) between Aburikoji Takatsuji and Gojo Bomon. Nichiryu-shonin, together with his uncles Nichizon-shonin and Nichido-shonin, worked to purify Myohon-ji Temple of its discipline, but left Myohon-ji Temple because of the conflict. Honno-ji Temple was surrounded by Gojo Bomon-koji to the north, Takatsuji-koji to the south, Nishinotoin-oji to the east, and Abura-koji to the west. Nichiryu-shonin began to teach people to chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” in their mouths, which was the long-cherished wish of Nichiren-shonin, the founder of the Nichiren sect. In 1418, Honno-ji Temple was destroyed by the order of Getsumai-shonin. Nichiryu-shonin moved to Hongon-ji Temple in Mitsui, Kawachi (Osaka Prefecture), and Honko-ji Temple in Amagasaki (Hyogo Prefecture). In 1429, Honno-ji Temple was rebuilt in Uchino (Nishijin area) with the help of Kosodenya Soku (Yamamoto Soku). Honno-ji Temple was built in 1433 in Rokkaku Omiya by Nyoiomaru as a temple petitioner. Since 1433, the temple name “Honno-ji (本能寺)” has been used. Before that, from 1415 to 1432, the temple name “Honno-ji (本応寺)” was used. “Honno-ji (本能寺)” and “Honno-ji (本応寺)” are derived from the words “Honmon Happon Soou Nogu no Tera (本門八品相応能弘之寺)”. By the way, since Honno-ji Temple has been hit by fire five times since its founding, the character “No (能)” is used as “leave (去)” instead of “hi (ヒ・火)”, which is represented by fire. During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), under the protection of the Ashikaga clan (the Muromachi Shogunate), Honno-ji Temple was counted among the Rakuchu Hokke nijuichi-kaji (the 21 temples of Rakuchu Hokke). In 1536, Honno-ji Temple was burned by the Tenmon Hokke-no-Ran (Rebellion) of Enryaku-ji Temple, and the temple complex was burned and evacuated to Kenhon-ji Temple in Sakai (Osaka Prefecture). In 1542, by decree of the 105th Emperor Go-Nara, Honno-ji Temple was allowed to return from Sakai. In 1545, Honno-ji Temple was rebuilt in Shijo Nishinotoin by Nichijo-shonin, the 12th head monk of Honno-ji Temple. Honno-ji Temple was surrounded by Rokkaku-koji to the north, Shijo Bomon-koji to the south, Nishinotoin-oji to the east, and Abura-koji to the west, and there were more than 30 sub-temples. It is said that in 1581, the moat, doi, stone wall, etc. were improved, and Honno-ji Temple was fortified. On June 21, 1582 (June 2 on the lunar calendar), Honno-ji Temple was destroyed by fire due to the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident) committed by Akechi Mitsuhide, and Oda Nobunaga committed suicide. Oda Nobunaga often used Myokaku-ji Temple as his lodging during his trips to Kyoto, and Honno-ji Temple became his lodging on three occasions. At the time of the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident), his eldest son, Oda Nobutada, used Myokaku-ji Temple as his lodging. In 1591, Honno-ji Temple was moved to its present location by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and rebuilt by Nichien-shonin, the 14th head monk of Honno-ji Temple. In 1615, the Edo shogunate granted Honno-ji Temple 40 koku of the shuin land. Honno-ji Temple was destroyed by the Tenmei-no-taika (Tenmei Great Fire) in 1788. Honno-ji Temple was rebuilt in 1840 by Nichion-shonin, the 77th head monk of Honno-ji Temple. In 1864, Honno-ji Temple was destroyed by the Hamagurigomon-no-Hen (Kinmon-no-Hen). Due to the Agechi-rei (decree after) the Meiji Restoration, Honno-ji Temple lost most of its precincts. Hondo (main hall) was rebuilt in 1928.
*reference・・・Honno-ji Temple website

【Honno-ji Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Hondo (Main Hall, 本堂) was destroyed by fire in 1864 during the Hamagurigomon-no-Hen (Kinmon-no-Hen), and its reconstruction was delayed by the Haibutsukishaku until it was finally rebuilt in 1928. Hondo was designed by Amanuma Shunichi, a Kyoto University professor and architectural historian, and is a replica of a building from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Hondo houses the tablets of Nichiren-shonin, Nichiro-shonin, Nichiryu-shonin, and Oda Nobunaga.
★Omote-mon (Omote-mon Gate, 表門) was built in 1871 as a mon (gate) of Kyomei-in Temple, a sub-tnmple of Myoshin-ji Temple, and was moved and built at Honno-ji Temple in 1880. Omote-mon is the main gate of Honno-ji Temple. Omote-mon was built facing the shopping street.
★Nobunaga-ko Gobyosho (信長公御廟所) was built on July 3rd, 1582, one month after the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident) on June 2nd, 1582, by Oda Nobutaka, the 3rd son of Oda Nobunaga. It is said that Oda Nobunaga’s sword was kept here. Haiden was rebuilt around 1928. Nobunaga-ko Gobyosho is the mausoleum of Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga-ko Gobyosho is built on the south side of Hondo.
★Treasure Hall (大宝殿宝物館) was built in 1998. Treasure Hall has four floors of reinforced concrete, and the Hogyodo is on the fifth floor. In Treasure Hall, cultural artifacts such as the incense burner of Sanbon Ashi-no-kaeru (Three-legged Frog), which survived destruction, military fire, and fire, etc., are exhibited and made public. The Sanbon Ashi-no-kaeru (Three-legged Frog) is said to have suddenly croaked on the eve of the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident) to warn Oda Nobunaga of something unusual.
本能寺見どころ (Honno-ji Temple Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Nobunaga-ko-ki (信長公忌) is held every year on June 2nd. Nobunaga-ko-ki is held on June 2nd of the lunar calendar, the anniversary of the death of Oda Nobunaga, who committed suicide in the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident) in 1582. Events may be held.
★Hojo-e (放生会) is held every year on September 15th. Hojo-e is a memorial service to express gratitude to all the living beings we eat every day. After the Buddhist service, the uchiwa-daiko (drums) are beaten, and while chanting the “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” they move to the riverbed of the Kamo-gawa River, where river fish such as loaches and crucian carp are released into the Kamo-gawa River.

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-231-5335

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Honno-ji Temple is south on Kawaramachi-dori and then east on Shijo-dori to Yasaka Shrine. The route is surrounded by the Hanamachi (Kagai) district of Pontocho and Gion, Kennin-ji Temple, and Tatsumi Daimyojin, so a stop at these places is also recommended. Although it is a little far, it may be a good idea to take a walk to Moto Honnoji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, where Honnoji Temple was located when the Honnoji-no-Hen (Honnoji Incident) occurred.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】
If you plan to visit Honno-ji Temple, be sure to check the latest information.