Higashi Honganji is situated in close proximity to Kyoto station and is a convenient place to go if you have little time. It’s an impressive set of structures (the main hall being the largest wooden building in Kyoto) – you’ll have to take off your shoes and go inside to really appreciate how massive it is. Apart from the towering halls the temple grounds are rather dull – just a big space filled with gravel, no pretty gardens here – but on one side the compound is flanked by a moat, and if you look back, away from the entrance, you’ll see the Kyoto tower reflected in its water.

Higashi Honganji belongs to Jodo-shinshu school of Japanese Buddhism. The two main structures are Amidado (hall of Amida) and Hondo (main hall), connected by a walkway, so you can enter from one and exit from the other. I suggest going from left to right, from Amidado to Hondo.

Unlike many temples in Kyoto, the entrance to Higashi Honganji is free.

Fall foliage information: there are no maple trees in Higashi Honganji, but there are some ginkgos.