Higashi Honganji (真宗本廟) in Kyoto has six gates designated as Important Cultural Properties by the national government, each with a different role and history. Some gates welcomed worshippers, while others were used for ceremonies and the temple's daily life. They carry not only architectural beauty but also the techniques of each era, the work of craftspeople, and the devotion of the people who have protected this place.
A new project invites visitors to walk around the gates, learn about them, and experience them, and to discover a new side of Higashi Honganji through its gates. It comprises three parts: a multilingual website, exclusive goods, and an official guided tour.
01 | Get to Know the Gates: Multilingual Website
A multilingual landing page introducing the history, appeal, and cultural background of the gates at Higashi Honganji opens on October 30, 2026. It is intended for visitors from Japan and abroad, offering a chance to learn more about the temple's history and culture through its gates.
- URL: https://gates.higashihonganji.or.jp
- Languages: Japanese and English
- Launch date: October 30, 2026
02 | Take the Gates Home: Higashi Honganji Exclusive Goods
Goods inspired by the gates of Higashi Honganji bring memories of touring the gates, and their appeal, into daily life. They are sold only at the Higashi Honganji "Okaimono Hiroba" (お買い物広場) shop.
Art Book: Kyoto Higashi Honganji Gates (京都 東本願寺 門)
This art book takes readers around the six gates from morning to night, in changing light. From the overall look of each gate to the details of its wooden joinery, carvings, and decoration, it brings together in one volume the beauty of each of the six gates as it emerges in the shifting light.
- Price: ¥4,950 (tax included)
Capsule Toy: Bottle Opener Magnet
Under the theme "Open the gate, open the bottle. Bring the gates into daily life," these magnets feature designs of the six gates and can also be used as bottle openers. Which gate you get stays a surprise until you spin the gacha. There are 6 designs plus 1 secret design.
- Price: ¥500 (tax included) per play
Goods Details
- On sale from: October 31, 2026
- Where to buy: "Okaimono Hiroba" (お買い物広場), Higashi Honganji, Kyoto
- Shop information: https://www.higashihonganji.or.jp/about/guide/shopping/
03 | Walk Around the Six Gates: Higashi Honganji Official Tour
An official guided tour in English is offered to share the history and architectural appeal of Higashi Honganji with people around the world. The tour begins at Goeido-mon Gate (御影堂門) and goes around the six gates, each with a different role and character. Participants also visit Amidado Hall (阿弥陀堂) and Goeido Hall (御影堂), and with the guide's explanations they can learn about the beauty of the architecture, its history, and the spirituality behind it. The tour ends with a sutra-copying workshop.
An official guided tour in Japanese is also in preparation.
- Tour name: Higashi Honganji Official Tour: Gates, Halls & Sutra Copying
- Organizer: Japan Exploration Tours JIN (合同会社 Japan Exploration Tours JIN-仁)
- Tour page: https://jet-jin.com/kyoto/gates-higashihonganji
About the Project
The project aims to help visitors rediscover the history and cultural value of Higashi Honganji through its gates and to make their stay and experience richer. Through new cultural experiences, goods, and information, it hopes to build interest in and affection for Higashi Honganji. A portion of the proceeds will be returned to the preservation and repair of cultural properties, with the goal of creating a cycle in which the use and the preservation of cultural properties support each other.
Official Links
- Instagram: @higashihonganji_otaniha
- X: https://x.com/OTANIHA_PR
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shinshuotaniha.higashihonganji/
- Website: https://www.higashihonganji.or.jp/
