Chionin Temple

Chion-in is the head temple of Pure Land Buddhism, founded in 1234 on the site where the sect's founder Honen lived and died. The 24-meter Sanmon gate, Japan's largest wooden gate, sets the scale for a complex that overwhelms with sheer size. Inside, the Mieido main hall holds thousands of worshippers, and the temple keeps celebrated curiosities: a floorboard corridor that squeaks like birdsong underfoot, a ceremonially significant forgotten umbrella, and a 70-ton bell rung each New Year's Eve by a coordinated team of 17 monks. Despite its scale and historical importance, Chion-in draws far fewer visitors than nearby Kiyomizu-dera.