Ryukokuzan Hongwanji (Nishi Hongwanji Temple)

Affectionately coined as “Onishi-san," Nishi Hongwanji stands as the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji sect. After the death of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu, his youngest daughter, Kakushinni, established a mausoleum enshrining his remains and image. In 1591, Toyotomi Hideyoshi relocated the temple to its current location.

This coveted destination is marked as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, complete with sprawling grounds spanning some 30,000 tsubo (about 99,000 square meters) that a number of significant buildings known as national treasures and important cultural properties. These include the Goeido Hall, Amidado Hall, and the Hiunkaku Pavilion (closed to the public), one of Kyoto’s "Three Great Pavilions" alongside Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Also on the grounds is the North Noh Stage (closed to the public), the oldest surviving Noh stage, as well as buildings that showcase the grandeur of Momoyama culture. During special viewing periods, normally restricted areas like the Shiro Shoin, Kokei-no-niwa Garden, and Hiunkaku Pavilion open to the public to explore.

Keep an eye out for hidden highlights like the 400-year-old giant ginkgo tree, decorative wood inlays on the edges of the Goeido and Amidado Hall verandas, and reflections of the Amidado Hall in the surface of the water at the temizuya (purification basin). For a real deep dive, you can even join guided tours led by monks to gain deeper insight into the history and significance of Nishi Hongwanji.