Nisonin Temple
Japanese temple fans have a number of temples in Arashiyama from which to choose, and Nison-in Temple makes for a lovely option.
Dating back to the middle of the 9th century, Nison-in Temple is located on a slope of Mount Ogura in Arashiyama, just like Jojakko-ji Temple.
Nison-in Temple is about a 15-minute walk from Tenryu-ji Temple, the most famous of the Arashiyama temples, and a must-add to your itinerary if you plan to spend more than a day in this pretty western district of Kyoto.
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What to See and Do at the Nison-in Temple
Nison-in means “two sacred images,” and there are two famous Buddhist images to admire in the main hall of the temple: the Shaka Nyorai and the Amitabha Tathagata.
Here’s what to see and do at the Nison-in Temple!
Enter through the main gate at Nison-in
The main gate to the Nison-in Temple is impressive. It was built in the early 17th century at Fushimi Castle and relocated here later.
As you walk through the gate, admire the gorgeous tiled roof.
Walk the maple-lined pathway
Just past the main gate, the approach to the temple is a wide pathway lined with mature maple trees and cherry trees. It’s known as Momiji-no-baba.
A spectacular pathway for photos, Momiji-no-baba features pink cherry blossoms in the spring and red and yellow leaf colors in the fall.
If you visit during early May, look for the rare Nison-in Fugenzou cherry blossom in bloom. Each light pink blossom has around 200 petals!
Summer offers lots of lush green, and in the winter, bare branches may feature a dusting of snow or frost.
In early summer, hydrangeas in the garden at Nison-in are in peak bloom.
No matter the season, Momiji-no-baba makes Nison-in Temple a must-visit for photographers.
Visit the Main Hall at Nison-in Temple
The impressive main hall at Nison-in houses the two sacred images. The original building was destroyed in a fire, but it was rebuilt in 1521.
This building is designated a Cultural Property of Kyoto.
Visit the other shrines and structures
The Hachisha-no-miya Shrine is a little structure built to protect the Nison-in Temple from anything bad. It is dedicated to the eight deities worshipped at the major temples in Japan.
Benten-do is a temple dedicated to Benzaiten, one of the deities of fortune. Inside, you can admire a statue of a snake with a human head and another of a nine-headed dragon.
The Mausoleum of Priest Tanku is located up some stone steps, and here you can enjoy the views as well as view the tombstone, from the mid 13th century.
Strike the Bell of Happiness
The large Bell of Happiness was originally cast in 1604 and recast in 1992.
Visitors are asked to strike the bell thrice and pray for three types of happiness, for oneself, for those around you, and for all humanity.
Nisonin Temple Access
You can walk from the Saga Arashiyama Station to Nison-in Temple in about 20 minutes (see map).
The temple is also a 20-minute walk from the Randen Arashiyama Station, and about a 30-minute walk from the Hankyu Arashiyama Station.
If you take the city bus, get off at the Saga-shakado-mae bus stop. From here, Nison-in Temple is a 10-minute walk.
You can arrive by car as well, although parking is limited to 10 cars, or by taxi.
The address for Nison-in Temple is 27 Saganisonin Monzen Chojincho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto.
Nison-in Temple Hours
The Nison-in Temple is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4.30 p.m.
Nison-In Temple Entrance Fee
There is an entrance fee of 500 yen (USD 3.25) per person for the Nison-in Temple. Kids under 12 enter free.
You can buy tickets at the entrance to the temple on the day of your visit.
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