The temple's construction was funded through donations from Buddhist followers across Japan following the destruction of the original 17th-century buildings.
The massive hemp ropes used to hoist the heavy timber frames during the 19th-century reconstruction were reinforced with human hair.
The Goeido hall contains over 900 tatami mats on its floor space.
The temple serves as the headquarters for the Otani-ha branch, which has over 8,000 affiliated temples throughout Japan.
The massive wooden pillars of the Goeido hall were sourced from forests in the Kiso and Hida regions.
The temple gate, Goeido-mon, is one of the largest wooden gates in Kyoto.
Shosei-en Garden, part of the complex, is a designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
Higashi Hongan-ji is the head temple of the Otani branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and features the Goeido, one of the largest wooden structures in the world. The current buildings date primarily to 1895, following a fire that destroyed the previous structures in 1864. The temple complex includes the Amida-do Hall and the Goeido, which are connected by a long corridor. The wooden roof of the Goeido is covered in over 170,000 tiles. Massive hemp ropes, made from human hair donated by women across Japan during the construction, are stored at the temple as testaments to the public labor involved in its assembly. The complex is surrounded by a large moat and stone walls, providing a clear boundary from the surrounding urban area. Visitors enter through the massive Goeido-mon gate, which stands over 30 meters tall. The grounds house Shosei-en, a detached garden designed as a place of retreat for the head priest. The temple serves as an active religious center, hosting daily morning services.
The view of the Goeido-mon gate from the street level or the open courtyard facing the main wooden halls.
Visit Shosei-en Garden separately to experience the traditional landscape design.
Walk the entire length of the connecting corridor between the two main halls to appreciate the scale of the wood joinery.
Observe the tatami floors carefully to see the distinct layout of a major Jodo Shinshu temple.
Do not take photographs inside the prayer halls, as this is strictly forbidden.
Remove shoes before entering the temple halls; maintain a quiet demeanor; photography is prohibited inside the halls.
