Eikan-do Zenrin-ji
禅林寺 · Buddhist temple
The temple's chronology records that Shinjo acquired a former residence here in 853, and that Emperor Seiwa granted the name Zenrin-ji in 863. It belongs to the Nishiyama branch of the Pure Land school. The name Eikan-do comes from the priest Eikan, who arrived in 1072.
The temple records the Mikaeri Amida, the Amida who looks back over his shoulder. Its chronology says Eikan perceived this turning figure while walking in prayer.
Hours
The times below are the times published by the temple.
| Temple open | 9:00–16:00 (last admission); the gate closes at 17:00Eikan-do Zenrin-ji — visiting hours and fees |
|---|
Admission
| General | 1,000 yen |
|---|---|
| University and vocational students | 800 yen |
| Junior and senior high school | 600 yen |
| Primary school | 200 yen |
| Groups of 30 or more, general | 800 yen |
Getting there
- Nanzenji Eikandomichi bus stop — about 3 minutes on foot
- Keage Station — about 15 minutes on foot
Address: Eikando-cho 48, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Where this fits in the walk
Eikan-do is the middle stop. It stops admitting visitors at 16:00 and closes its gate at 17:00. The other two stops on this route admit visitors later than that.
This shows the order of the walk. It is a diagram, not a map, and not to scale. Walking times are map-route estimates between the listed locations.
Sources
| History and background, What you can see | Eikan-do Zenrin-ji — chronology |
|---|---|
| Temple open, Admission | Eikan-do Zenrin-ji — visiting hours and fees |
| Getting there | Kyoto City Official Travel Guide — Eikan-do |
Information checked: September 4, 2026.