Konkai-Komyo-ji Temple

Konkai Komyo-ji Temple is a Jodo Buddhist temple in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, with the mountain name Shiun-zan. It is affectionately known locally as “Kurodani-san.” The temple was founded in 1175 (Shōan 5) by Honen, the founder of Jodo-shu. Access is about a 30-minute walk from Jingu-Marutamachi Station on the Keihan Line, or about a 13-minute walk from the “Higashi Tenno-cho” bus stop using Kyoto City Bus route 5 from JR Kyoto Station. The Miedo (also called the Daiden) was rebuilt in 1944 (Showa 19) and enshrines a seated portrait statue of Honen at age 75. The Monju-to (three-story pagoda) was built in 1633 (Kan’ei 10). Statues of Monju Bosatsu and attendant figures, traditionally attributed to Unkei, were once enshrined there but have since been moved to the Miedo. The Amida-do was rebuilt in 1605 (Keicho 10) and enshrines an Amida Nyorai statue said to be the final work of Eshin Sozu. Konkai Komyo-ji is also famous as the temple that served as headquarters for Matsudaira Katamori, lord of Aizu Domain, who held the post of Kyoto Shugoshoku (Kyoto military commissioner) at the end of the Edo period. Strolling the spacious grounds while imagining Bakumatsu-era history is a rewarding experience.