Houkanji Temple (Yasaka Tower)

Yasaka Pagoda is formally known as Hokan-ji Temple, a temple of the Rinzai Kennin-ji school located in Kyoto’s Gion area. It is said to have been founded as the clan temple of the Yasaka clan, immigrants of Korean origin who lived in this area during the Asuka period. Another tradition holds that Prince Shotoku built a five-story pagoda here after receiving a divine message in a dream from Nyoirin Kannon, enshrined Buddha relics, and named the temple Hokan-ji. Although it was originally a large temple, it gradually declined, and today only the five-story pagoda, the Yakushi Hall, and the Taishi Hall remain within grounds surrounded by private houses. The five-story pagoda rising above the streets of Gion is popularly called "Yasaka no To" and serves as a landmark. Standing 40 meters tall, it was rebuilt in 1440 (Eikyo 12) by Ashikaga Yoshinori and is cherished as the oldest pagoda in Kyoto City. Yasaka Pagoda is opened to the public irregularly, and because there is no official website, it is not possible to confirm opening dates in advance. Inside the pagoda, visitors can view up to the second floor and experience its distinctive esoteric Buddhist atmosphere. You can find Yasaka Pagoda by turning off the slope leading to Kiyomizu-dera toward Sannenzaka and then following Ninenzaka as it curves down to the left.