Temple · Higashiyama / Matsubara

Rokuharamitsu-ji 六波羅蜜寺

A small city temple near Gion that holds one of Japan's most startling statues: the monk Kuya with six tiny Amida Buddhas emerging from his mouth on a wire as he chants.

About

Rokuharamitsu-ji was founded in 951 by the wandering monk Kuya, who spread the chanting of the nembutsu among ordinary people during an epidemic. The neighbourhood later became the headquarters of the Taira clan and then of the Kamakura shogunate's Kyoto deputies. The temple's small treasure hall holds an outstanding collection of Kamakura sculpture, including the 13th-century statue of Kuya by Kosho, son of the great Unkei: the wiry monk walks with a staff and gong, and six little Amida figures, one for each syllable of "Na-mu-a-mi-da-butsu", float from his lips. Also there are statues of Taira no Kiyomori reading a sutra and of Unkei himself. The main hall dates from 1363. A turtle-shaped "money washing" spring and a statue of Benzaiten draw local worshippers.

Highlights

• Kosho's statue of Kuya with six Amida emerging from his mouth
• Seated statue of Taira no Kiyomori
• Portrait statue of the sculptor Unkei
• 1363 main hall
• Zeni-arai money-washing spring

Tips

• The treasure hall is small; allow 30 minutes.
• It is between Kennin-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, so detour on the way up.
• The temple sits in the Rokuhara area, once also known as the burial ground gateway; look for nearby Rokudo Chinno-ji, a well to the underworld.
• Photography is not allowed in the treasure hall.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Hotel The Celestine Kyoto GionStay · 250 m away
• MiyagawachoPhoto Spot · 330 m away
• Capella KyotoStay · 360 m away
• Kawai Kanjiro's HouseMuseum · 370 m away
• Ichikawaya CoffeeCafé & Sweets · 420 m away
• Yasui KonpiraguShrine · 430 m away
• Kennin-jiTemple · 430 m away
• Coin Lockers · Kiyomizu-gojo Station (Keihan)Luggage Storage · 430 m away