GOD ROAD JAPAN

Nison-in

二尊院  ·  Buddhist temple

The temple records that it was built in the Jowa era, between 834 and 848, by Jikaku Daishi at the request of Emperor Saga. It has belonged to the Tendai school since the Meiji period.

The name means "hall of the two honoured ones", and the main hall holds the two images the temple is named for: a Shakyamuni who sends the departing soul on its way and an Amida who receives it. The temple records that both were carved by Kasuga sculptors in the middle of the Kamakura period and are designated Important Cultural Properties. Beyond the main gate are the imperial messenger gate and the Hasshagu.

Hours

The times below are the times published by the temple.

Temple open9:00–16:30Nison-in — visiting information
Closing daysNone statedNison-in — visiting information

Admission

Junior high school age and above500 yen
Primary school age and underFree
Groups of 30 or more, junior high and above300 yen

Nison-in — visiting information

Getting there

Address: Chojin-cho 27, Saga Nisonin Monzen, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto

Kyoto City Official Travel Guide — Nison-in

Where this fits in the walk

Nison-in is the last stop. It closes at 16:30; Tenryu-ji's garden and Jojakko-ji both stay open later.

1
Tenryu-jiBuddhist temple
about 9 minutes on foot
2
Jojakko-jiBuddhist temple
about 5 minutes on foot
3
Nison-inBuddhist temple

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 seeNison-in — history of the temple
Temple open, Closing days, AdmissionNison-in — visiting information
Getting thereKyoto City Official Travel Guide — Nison-in

Information checked: September 4, 2026.