Temples & religious sites
Honnō-ji Temple
What it is
Honnō-ji is a Nichiren-sect Buddhist temple in central Kyoto, best known as the site where warlord Oda Nobunaga was betrayed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide and died in 1582, an event usually called the Honnō-ji Incident. The current temple was rebuilt after that episode and after later fires, so what you see today is not the original 16th-century structure. It's a working temple with a modest precinct rather than a large tourist complex, and there is a small museum on site displaying temple treasures and artifacts connected to Nobunaga.
Getting there
It sits in downtown Kyoto near the Kawaramachi/Sanjō shopping and dining area, an easy walk from most central hotels. From Kyoto Station, it's roughly a 15-minute subway ride on the Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station, then about a 10-minute walk east.
Time to allow
Most visitors spend 30 to 45 minutes here, longer if you go through the treasure hall/museum in detail.
When to go
As a central-Kyoto site next to a major shopping street, it can see a steady flow of visitors during the day, particularly around midday and on weekends. Mornings tend to be quieter. It's not primarily a seasonal or nature-viewing spot, so time of year matters less than at Kyoto's larger gardens or shrines.
Combine it with
- Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge (0.3km) — a short stroll away, spanning the Kamo River.
- Kyoto International Manga Museum (0.8km) — an easy walk if you want a different kind of stop nearby.
- Gion (1km) — walkable, Kyoto's historic geisha district with traditional streets to explore.
- Yasaka Shrine (1.2km) — can be combined with Gion on the same walking route.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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