Honnou-ji Temple

Honno-ji Temple is the head temple of the Honmon-ryu branch of Hokke-shu, dedicated to spreading the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. It is said to have been founded in 1415 (Oei 22), when Saint Nichiryu established a temple called Honno-ji (originally named Honno-ji as Honno-ji?*), between Aburanokoji Takatsuji and Gojo-bomon. The temple was originally called Honno-ji, and later renamed Honno-ji. Honno-ji is easily accessible: it is right by Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, about a 10-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, and about a 5-minute walk from Sanjo Station on the Keihan Line. Honno-ji is best known for the famous “Incident at Honno-ji.” At that time, Honno-ji was not located at the current Teramachi-Oike site, but near Horikawa-Shijo, and the precinct is said to have been about 150 meters east–west and 300 meters north–south. After the incident, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the temple to be relocated and rebuilt near its present location. Today the grounds include the main hall rebuilt in the early Showa period, a worship hall at the mausoleum area dedicated to Oda Nobunaga (who was killed at Honno-ji), the Daihinden Treasure Museum where temple treasures can be viewed, and a total of seven sub-temples.