Honen-in
This season's opening
Autumn opening of the temple interior
- Hours
- 9:30–16:00 (follow the on-site guidance for the last-entry time)
- Admission
- ¥800 adults, ¥400 university students, free for high school and under
- Booking
- No booking
The normally closed temple buildings open for seven days. In past years this has included sliding-door paintings by Kano Mitsunobu in the Hojo and the Hojo garden with its triad of stones representing Amida and two attendants
The grounds with the thatched gate and sand mounds stay free as usual. The opening is only a week long, so go on a weekday morning
About the garden
Through a thatched gate, two raised beds of white sand whose patterns change with the season. Free, open from 6:00, a step off the Philosopher's Path. Start a morning here.
Where to stand
From the top of the steps inside the gate, look down between the two sand terraces. Passing between them stands for purifying yourself with water.
Practical notes
Free and open from 6:00. The gardens are visible from the grounds; the buildings open only in early April and early November. Perfect first stop before Ginkaku-ji opens.
Tea and food nearby
Small places within walking distance. Check their opening days against the garden's.
- 4 min walk🍡 SweetsKashihate (parfait café)
A tiny café on the Philosopher's Path near Honen-in, about four tables in all. Seasonal parfaits are the draw, and bookings get priority, so reserve on special-opening days.
Order：The seasonal parfait
12:00–17:00 (last order 16:30)Closed: Wednesdays (closed on Nov 18, the first day of the Honen-in opening). Cash only¥2,000–3,000Details ↗ - 5 min walkfrom Koun-ji Garden☕ CafeBotanic Coffee Kyoto
A café with a plant-filled terrace near the south end of the Philosopher's Path. It opens at 9:00, so you can meet here for coffee before the special openings start.
Order：Hotcakes and coffee