Nishi Hongan-ji 西本願寺
Kyoto, Japan UNESCO World Heritage Site
Nishi Hongan-ji is a Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist temple in the Shimogyō-ku district of Kyoto. It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a National Treasure of Japan and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
Planning a visit
The temple is open from 05:30 to 17:00, Monday through Sunday, and there is no fee for entry. It is situated 366 km from Tokyo and 37 km from Osaka Itami International Airport. Visitors can combine a visit here with other nearby locations, such as Kyōto Station (1.0 km), Tō-ji (1.3 km), Sanjūsangen-dō (1.9 km), Nijō Castle (2.5 km), and Yasaka Shrine (2.8 km). Nishi Hongan-ji is one of the most looked-up sights in Japan on English Wikipedia, ranking 97th among the country's sights.
Weather in the area varies significantly by month. The warmest period is in July and August, when daily highs reach 30 °C and 31 °C. The wettest months are June and July, with rainfall of 196 mm and 191 mm respectively. The coldest temperatures occur in January and February, with daily lows of 0 °C. In the spring, May has highs of 22 °C and 151 mm of rain, while autumn months like November have highs of 16 °C and 73 mm of rain, and December has lows of 2 °C.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 31 °C. The wettest is June, with about 196 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 10 |
| Average low, °C | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 58 | 71 | 109 | 109 | 151 | 196 | 191 | 113 | 166 | 117 | 73 | 53 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 17 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
