When looking at the city of Kyoto from the stage of Kiyomizudera Temple, the five-story pagoda of Hokanji Temple can be seen just in front of it. This pagoda is known as Pagoda Yasaka. This pagoda is also a well-known landmark in Higashiyama District when heading to Shimizudera Temple.
The Hokanji Temple is a temple of the Kenninji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. It is one of the oldest temples in Kyoto. And the legend says that Prince Shotoku founded it. There is a possibility that the temple was the family temple of the Yasaka clan, who lived in Kyoto before the Heian-kyo period. The old name of Hokanji Temple was Yasaka Temple.
The Yasaka Pagoda was rebuilt by Ashikaga Yoshinori in 1440. Onin War destroyed all other buildings. Today, only the Yakushido and Taishido remain within the precincts of the Hokanji Temple, besides the Pagoda Yasaka.
Model course to visit Pagoda Yasaka
Visit all five-story pagodas in Kyoto.
Nearby Spots
The famous Kiyomizudera Temple is always full of tourists. But it is worth visiting at least once.
Kodaiji Temple is where Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, became a nun. She spent the rest of her life here.
Related articles:
[…] Pagoda Yasaka, Hokanji (法観寺) […]