Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple is located in the Adashino area in the mountains of Okusaga, just past Saga Arashiyama in western Kyoto. The place has served as a burial and memorial site since ancient times, and the name of the area itself carries the meaning of transience. It is said that Kukai (774-835), the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism, established a temple in the area about 1,200 years ago to pray for the souls of the people buried there. Later, Honen (1133-1212), the founder of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, transformed it into a temple that practiced a form of prayer called nenbutsu, a ritual recitation of the name of Amida Buddha to ensure one's rebirth in a paradise-like realm.
One of the most remarkable features of Adashino Nenbutsuji is Sai no Kawara, a dedicated space where approximately 8,000 stone grave markers of people who were buried in the area over the centuries are preserved. The temple grounds also contain several noteworthy Buddhist halls and statues, a grand Indian-style stupa, quiet cemeteries, and a serene bamboo grove. Various memorial services and rites are held at the temple over the course of the year, including a ceremony in late August when thousands of candles are lit among the grave markers.
Because Adashino Nenbutsuji is a place of memorial dedicated to the souls of the people buried in the area, visitors are requested to be quiet and respectful while exploring the temple.
This is an event where candles are lit and offerings made to unrelated Buddhas, who died with no one to tend their grave on Sai no Kawara river in the evening of August every year.
The main hall of Adashino Nenbutsuji was constructed in 1712 and enshrines the temple's principal object of worship, a statue of Amida Buddha from the Kamakura period (1185-1333).
At the back of the temple grounds, at the foot of the bamboo grove, there is a shrine dedicated to the Mizuko Jizo, built to offer memorial services to babies who were born and died before their days were up.
At the easternmost area of the temple grounds is a large, dome-shaped brick stupa (bussharito) that serves as an ossuary: a final resting place for bones of the deceased.
A short distance past the main hall is a stone stairway lined on both sides by a thick grove of moso bamboo.
Opening 9:00〜16:30 (closing of reception)
*The gates will close a maximum of 30 minutes after the reception closes.
*Reception closes at 15:30 in January, February, and December.
*Please note that the hours may be changed or the temple may be closed on days of temporary religious ceremonies.
*The temple will be closed for safety reasons when a storm warning is issued for Kyoto City or when there is snow or ice on the ground.
If you have a goshuincho book, or a red stamp book, we will write directly in it.
Some are also pre-written.
*Groups of elementary school students or younger for school or school events are not permitted.
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
17 Sagatoriimoto Adashinocho Ukyo-ku,
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu 616-8436 Japan
E-mail : adashino@nenbutsuji.jp
on JR Sagano Line
From Kyoto Station, get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station.
on Keifuku Electric Railway
From Shijo-Omiya Station, take the Randen Ranzanmoto Line and get off at Arashiyama Station.
on Keifuku Electric Railway
Take the Randen Kitano Line from Kitano Shiraume-cho Station, transfer at Katabashinotsuji Station, and get off at Arashiyama Station.
*Any of these can be done by taxi, on foot or by transfer to the Kyoto Bus.