Kōmyō-ji

Kōmyō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nagaokakyō, a city southwest of Kyoto, serving as the head temple of the Seizan branch of Pure Land Buddhism. Two main structures, the Miedō Hall and Amida Hall, stand amid a garden of maple trees connected by gentle stone steps.

Kumagai Naozane, a samurai who became a monk, founded this temple in 1198 after becoming a disciple of Hōnen. The grounds became the site of Hōnen's first public teachings about the Amida prayer and later his cremation place in the 13th century.

The name translates to 'Temple of Light and Wisdom,' a reference to the teachings that Hōnen shared here about reciting the Amida Buddha's name. Today, monks and pilgrims use the halls and paths as part of their spiritual practice along three established routes in the region.

An entrance fee of 1000 yen applies during autumn foliage season, while access remains free during other months. The stone steps between the halls are easy to walk but can become slippery when wet.

Hōnen was cremated here, and records describe a bright light rising from his stone coffin. The grounds now hold a memorial stone marking this event, visited by believers.

Location: Nagaokakyo

Founders: Kumagai Naozane

Part of: The Twenty-Fifth Reikyo of Dharan Shonin, site sacré de Kyoto Rakusai Kannon, site sacré des ruines de Nishiyama Kokushi

Website: http://komyo-ji.or.jp

GPS coordinates: 34.93847,135.67519

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30