Ninna-ji

Ninna-ji Temple is the head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism, completed in 888 by Emperor Uda. Its founding was initiated by Emperor Koko, Uda’s father, and the temple was named after the era name “Ninna” used at the time. After becoming a monk and entering Ninna-ji, Emperor Uda established his residence there, called the Omuro, and the temple came to be known as “Omuro Gosho” as well.

Since its establishment, Ninna-ji has held a special status as a monzeki temple, with members of the imperial family serving as abbots, and it has long maintained a lofty and distinguished tradition. During the Onin War of the Muromachi period (1467–1477), many of its buildings were destroyed by fire, but reconstruction began in the early Edo period, forming the magnificent temple complex that remains today.

Within the grounds are numerous historically significant structures, including the Kondo (Main Hall), a National Treasure relocated from the Shishinden of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, as well as the five-story pagoda, Niomon Gate, and Mie-do Hall. The five-story pagoda, standing about 36 meters tall, is noted for its graceful form with nearly uniform width across each tier, and together with the late-blooming Omuro cherry blossoms, it has become a symbol of Ninna-ji.

The “Gosho” palace, rebuilt from the Meiji to Taisho periods, consists of buildings such as the Shinden and Shiro-shoin. Along with the northern pond garden and the elegant southern garden of white gravel, it preserves the refined atmosphere of an imperial palace. These gardens were designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2021 as the “Ninna-ji Gosho Gardens.”

The temple also possesses an extraordinarily rich collection of cultural properties, including the principal image of Amida Triad, a National Treasure, as well as a silk painting of Myo-o Peafowl, a maki-e treasure box with a jeweled lid, and numerous valuable books, Buddhist paintings, and crafts such as the Ishinho and Sanjōsōshi. These temple treasures are open to the public at the Reihokan Museum several times a year.

In spring, about 200 Omuro cherry trees bloom all at once near the Chumon Gate. Omuro cherry trees are short, standing at about 3 meters tall, allowing visitors to enjoy the blossoms at eye level, which has made them beloved by many. They were designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1924, and during their peak bloom in mid-April, the temple grounds are filled with a vibrant atmosphere.

In this way, Ninna-ji is widely known as one of Kyoto’s great temples, where architecture, culture, and nature are beautifully in harmony, and in 1994 it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.”