Honnoji Temple
Honnoji Temple
3.5
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The area
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Neighbourhood: City Center
No district of Kyoto is quite as representative of its blended nature as the City Center. By day, the covered shopping arcades along Kawaramachi and Shijo Street bring deal hunters and fashionistas out in droves to peruse the clothing, accessories, gifts, and home goods offerings. When it grows dark, the City Center is a hip spot for nightlife, alive with bars and clubs. A trendy culinary scene and an abundance of local watering holes give the Center its youthful vibrancy. In contrast, the quieter areas of the City Center seem a world away, shielded from noise by the foliage of the public gardens and zen spaces surrounding the area's shrines, castles, and the Imperial Palace. These ancient and sacred spots are seamlessly folded into the scenery, providing a respite from the energy of the city, but close enough to put you directly back onto the pulse of the city when you're ready.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
191 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
70
Average
96
Poor
3
Terrible
0
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柠檬水
Shanghai, China23 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Those who come here are interested in Oda Nobunaga, and ordinary tourists don't come here. So, in the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, this is a rare seclusion. When we went, we were in the middle of an exhibition with knives used by Morilan Maru, but it was a shame that the exhibition didn't allow photographs. On the first floor there was a lid on the jukebox, a lid on Oda Nobunaga, and it felt good. Although the ruins of the real Instinct Temple aren't here, it's nice to come here for a walk, after all, this is Instinct Temple!
Automatically translated
Written 22 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr. Shibuyakko
California47,451 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
A small temple in downtown Kyoto with a rich history. This is where the Honnoji incident happened on June 21, 1582.
The most powerful daimyo in Japan at the time, Oda Nobunaga was ambushed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide at this temple, an act of betrayal that ended Nobunaga's Sengoku period campaign to consolidate centralized power in Japan under his authority.
Nobunaga's death was avenged two weeks later when his retainer Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeated Mitsuhide in the Battle of Yamazaki, paving the way for Hideyoshi to continue Nobunaga's endeavor to unify power in Japan during the 1580s and 1590s.
You'll appreciate this temple more when you know a bit of history.
The most powerful daimyo in Japan at the time, Oda Nobunaga was ambushed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide at this temple, an act of betrayal that ended Nobunaga's Sengoku period campaign to consolidate centralized power in Japan under his authority.
Nobunaga's death was avenged two weeks later when his retainer Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeated Mitsuhide in the Battle of Yamazaki, paving the way for Hideyoshi to continue Nobunaga's endeavor to unify power in Japan during the 1580s and 1590s.
You'll appreciate this temple more when you know a bit of history.
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan15,555 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
Honnoji is well known as the place, where Nobunaga was assassinated by Mitsuhide Akechi. In fact, Honnoji at that time was not the actual location. However, the grave of Nobunaga can be found in this temple. From Kawaramachi it is maybe hard to find its small entrance. From Terachi shopping street, you can easily find the main gate.
Written 16 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hoosainnarker
Cape Town Central, South Africa6,121 contributions
Nov 2016 • Friends
Honnoji Temple is where the great daimyo Oda Nobunaga died in 1582. The shogun was attacked at the temple and then forced by one of his trusted generals, Akechi Mitsuhide, to commit ritual suicide.
The temple itself was founded in 1415, and is a part of the Nichiren sect. Like much of Kyoto it was destroyed by fire and moved to its current location in 1589. There is now a memorial to Oda Nobunaga inside the grounds of the temple. There is no fee to access the grounds of the temple, but there is a 500 yen fee to enter the small building (Honnoji Takuramonokan) on your right as you enter from Teramachi. The second floor contains items related to Nobunaga: byobu screens, swords, decorative scrolls, and more.
The temple is across the street from City Hall along Teramachi Dori with the nearest Train Station Shiyakushomae on the Tozai line, or a fifteen-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station.
The temple itself was founded in 1415, and is a part of the Nichiren sect. Like much of Kyoto it was destroyed by fire and moved to its current location in 1589. There is now a memorial to Oda Nobunaga inside the grounds of the temple. There is no fee to access the grounds of the temple, but there is a 500 yen fee to enter the small building (Honnoji Takuramonokan) on your right as you enter from Teramachi. The second floor contains items related to Nobunaga: byobu screens, swords, decorative scrolls, and more.
The temple is across the street from City Hall along Teramachi Dori with the nearest Train Station Shiyakushomae on the Tozai line, or a fifteen-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station.
Written 21 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChesireCats
Langkawi, Malaysia307 contributions
Been here with family during last autumn. A beautiful place with fantastic yellowish ginkyo tree surrounding the area. Highly recommended for all Oda Nobunaga's fan out there since this is the place whereby he committed "seppuku". All in all, worth a visit if you're in Kyoto but dont expect too much.
Written 27 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nozomu
Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan39 contributions
Sept 2015 • Family
Are you interested in Oda Nobunaga? He was the great military commander in Warring States Period. Don't cry because the Honno-ji Temple is too boring to visit. If you have 10 minutes, you can visit very well. Do not imagine the magnificent temple like Kiyomizudera or Golden temple. Bushi(mean sumurai) was simple and sturdy.
1回目はおぉっ!これが有名な本能寺か~、だけど2回目は無いかな。
1回目はおぉっ!これが有名な本能寺か~、だけど2回目は無いかな。
Written 29 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eleen C
Singapore, Singapore167 contributions
Apr 2013
Small temple but with modern facilities. Automated car park, nice motion detected toilet bowls. Beautiful shrines and quiet atmosphere.
Written 23 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnnyOxnard
Willis, TX1,156 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
This temple area is open to the public on several sides of the Main Street or Teramachi in Kyoto. We just had breakfast and decided to walk in. We really didn't know what it was. We went into the building and we saw a samurai warrior armor and decided to pay the fee and go up to the 2nd floor. It was not a large museum and I only read about 4 items that were translated otherwise we just walked through and we were done in 10 minutes. A steep price to pay for that. The rest of the grounds you can walk and visit the temple. Fairly basic. Don't know if I would make this a recommendation unless you need to see Nobunaga history.
(To Travel Is To Live)
(To Travel Is To Live)
Written 13 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArlettaC
Fairfield, CA1,119 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Honnoji would be much more special if it weren't in a city jam-packed with truly spectacular temples. As it is, it is an interesting historic site, and a lovely restful spot midst the bustle of the shopping arcades. There is a small museum with a collection of artifacts, but very little in English for those of us who don't read Japanese, so go with a Japanese friend if possible. I wouldn't make a special trip to see it, given the wonders elsewhere in Kyoto competing for ones time, but definitely take the time if you are in the area.
Written 21 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Devendra M
New Delhi, India300 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
This temple has a long (and somewhat gory) history. Bang in the middle of the shopping street. Nice detour, especially if you are accompanying ladies who are taking a whale of a time for shopping.
Serene atmosphere.
Serene atmosphere.
Written 2 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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