Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple

アダシノネンブツジ

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An ancient temple nestled in Adashino, a site of exposed-body burial since the Heian period. The 'Saiin no Kawara' with its approximately 8,000 stone Buddhas offers a unique landscape that evokes a sense of the powerful life force within tranquility.

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Overview

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple is a Jodo sect temple located in Adashino-cho, Saga-Torimoto, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto. Its mountain name is Kasai-zan, and its principal image is Amitabha Tathagata. Adashino is known as a burial ground since the Heian period, along with Toribe-no in Higashiyama and Rentai-no in Kita-Kyoto, and was famous as a place for exposed-body burial. According to tradition, in 811 AD (during the reign of Emperor Saga), Kukai buried and performed a memorial service for the exposed remains found in this area. He then buried a thousand stone Buddhas and erected stone Buddhas representing the Five Wisdom Buddhas, establishing what was then known as Gochi-zan Nyoraiku-ji Temple. Later, Honen established a Nenbutsu (Buddhist chanting) practice hall, and the name changed to Nenbutsu-ji Temple. The principal image is a statue of Amitabha Tathagata (temple tradition attributes it to Tankei, but the actual creator is unknown). The main hall was rebuilt in 1712 (during the reign of Emperor Yoshimune) by Jakudo. In the Meiji era (late 1800s), Master Nakayama Tsuyuu, the founder of the religious service organization Fukudenkai, unearthed and collected numerous unclaimed remains. These were arranged to resemble people listening to the Buddha's sermon, creating a breathtaking display of approximately 8,000 stone Buddhas. Judging from the age of the pots and old coins unearthed along with the stone Buddhas, they date back to the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo periods. The Sentokuyo (thousand-light offering) of candles to the spirits of these unclaimed remains is held from dusk on Jizo Bon (Lantern Festival). The view of the stone Buddhas and pagodas leaning against each other is reminiscent of the scene in Kuya's Jizo Wasan (hymn to Jizo Bodhisattva) of infants piling up stones on a riverbed. Hence, this spot is called 'Saiin no Kawara' (literally, 'the riverbed of Sai'). There is also a Mizuko Jizo (statue dedicated to stillborn children) on the temple grounds, and a memorial service is held for stillborn children on the Bodhisattva Jizo's Buddhist holy day. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple provides a serene space where history and nature blend together, offering visitors peace and inspiration.

Historic Sites
Shrines and Temples

Basic Information

Address: 14, Adashino-cho, Saga-Torimoto, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu Search for tourist attractions in Kyoto

Access: Take the Kyoto Bus bound for Kiyotaki and get off at the Torimoto bus stop. It's a 5-minute walk from there. Alternatively, get off at the Atago-dera-mae bus stop and walk for 10 minutes via the old street through the Saga-Torimoto Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. To reach either the Torimoto or Atago-dera-mae bus stops, take the Kyoto Bus bound for Kiyotaki from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line (via Arashiyama Station on the Randen Line). The journey takes 18 minutes. Buses run approximately once an hour during the day, so please check the timetable in advance. Note that on Saturdays and holidays, the return buses do not go via Arashiyama Station on the Randen Line. While you can take the Kyoto Bus No. 72 bound for Kiyotaki from Kyoto Station on the JR Kyoto Line (60-minute journey), there's only one bus on weekdays and holidays departing in the 5 PM range, and two on Saturdays. This makes it impractical for sightseeing purposes. From Shijo Kawaramachi or Sanjo Keihan, you can take the Kyoto Bus No. 62 bound for Kiyotaki (60-minute journey), but be aware that there's only one bus departing in the 7 AM range. Show route