Feb 11, 2014 - 1 min read

Honkokuji Temple in Kyoto

Temple of the golden dragon

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

An impressive golden dragon coils around a large stone lantern. Water spouts from his mouth into a basin below. I was told that if you wash money in the water, it will increase

This man was washing coins, but I saw other people washing 10,000 yen notes and even a Lotto ticket!

To reach Honkokuji Temple you must cross this bridge over Biwako Canal, a waterway carrying Kyoto's water supply from lake Biwa

Honkokuji has two gates. The first is painted red

Honkokuji's second gate has frightening guardians on either side of it. They used to be all gleaming gold, but last time I visited they had been painted

A gold lantern in the second gate

Honkokuji on a snowy day

A statue of a serene-faced monk overlooks the temple grounds

Carved wooden 'elephant' under the temple eaves

I wonder what these beautiful doors conceal?

Honkokuji's graceful bell tower

Cherry blossom beside the bridge in springtime

Nestled between the Eastern hills of Kyoto and Biwako Canal is a temple named Honkokuji. It is not large or famous, it is never busy, nor is it very old. The first time I visited, almost ten years ago, there was so much gold - the gate guardians, roof decorations, lanterns, the bell, a small tori and a fabulous dragon. It seemed very flashy and unusual. (Recently they toned things down, and only the dragon is still gold.) For some reason Honkokuji appeals to me, and I have visited it in every season, and taken many photos. I love crossing the red bridge, and rounding the curve in the road to catch the first glimpse of the red gate. I like atmosphere of the place, and I really love the gold dragon!

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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