The temple closes at 4:00 PM. Staff start closing procedures shortly before. Arrive by 3:30 PM so you can explore the grounds and see the Enma (King of Hell) statue without feeling rushed.
At a Glance
Heian-era official Ono no Takamura allegedly commuted to Hell nightly through a well here to assist Enma, the King of Hell, with judging souls, returning to the living world each morning.
During the annual Rokudō Mairi festival, visitors ring the "Mukae-gane" (welcoming bell) to call back ancestors' spirits from the underworld, a tradition still practiced today.
This temple offers 2 different goshuin designs
Regular
¥1,000
Regular
Facilities
Experience
The temple closes at 4:00 PM. Staff start closing procedures shortly before. Arrive by 3:30 PM so you can explore the grounds and see the Enma (King of Hell) statue without feeling rushed.
Hand-drawn goshuin temple stamps are available here. Bring your goshuin book or buy one on-site. These stamps are tied to the temple’s Japanese Buddhist tradition about the afterlife.
The temple staff are known for being exceptionally friendly and willing to share stories about the temple's legends, particularly regarding Ono no Takamura's nightly journeys to the underworld.
The divine spirits venerated at this sacred place
Higashiyama, Kyoto Prefecture
Not confirmed
More ways to continue from this place.
What this place is believed to grant
Within 300 m Within 600 m
KT399-東山轆轤町
docomo bike share
KT387-J'fort祇園四条
docomo bike share
KT085-京都銀行 東山支店(GSパーク)
docomo bike share
Renting needs the operator's app and a Japanese phone number. docomo day passes are sold at convenience stores. Data sources
4 recent posts
5.0
1 review
Plan to arrive by 3:30 PM at the latest. The temple closes at 4:00 PM and staff begin wrapping up before then, so giving yourself that buffer means you can actually take in the grounds rather than rushing through.
The main draw is the Enma statue, the King of Hell, which ties into the legend of Ono no Takamura, a court official said to have traveled to the underworld each night. Staff here are genuinely friendly and happy to tell you more about that story if you ask.
If you collect goshuin, this is a good stop. The stamps are hand-drawn on-site, and you can pick up a blank book here if you don't have one yet.
JTPro memberJelle & TimPro left a review
Would come back. Good signage. A restful place. Helpful and kind. Friendly staff. Worth the short walk
JTPro memberJelle & TimPro checked inLocation matched
Would come back. Good signage. A restful place. Helpful and kind. Friendly staff. Worth the short walk
Rokudo Chinno-ji
Higashiyama, Kyoto
MFMassimiliano Fraulini shared a goshuin
