The golden ginkgo beauty of Higashi Honganji Temple, accented by Kyoto Tower

Text and photos byKavanah

There are three main spots to view ginkgo trees in Kyoto: Higashi Honganji Temple in the early foliage season, Horikawa in the mid-season, and Nishi Honganji Temple in the late season. Travelers can choose the most suitable ginkgo viewing spot based on their visit dates. This article introduces the earliest-to-turn Higashi Honganji Temple. The wooded area in front of Higashi Honganji Temple is not only a great cherry blossom spot, but its autumn ginkgo display is also not to be missed—perfect for those arriving in Kyoto early, as it’s part of the early foliage area.
Visit date: November 17, 2013.

The classic view of Higashi Honganji Temple is this lotus-shaped fountain, but visiting in the morning meant harsh backlighting that made for difficult photography~

This is a great spot if you want Kyoto Tower in the background.

Turn around, and you’ll get the sunlight from the front—but the ginkgo trees on this side are sparser and less dense~

The ginkgo grove bathed in sunlight is truly stunningly beautiful.

Higashi Honganji Temple visiting information:
Visiting hours: Free access within the temple grounds
Admission: Free
Transportation:
About a 7-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station
Or get off at Karasuma-Nanajo bus stop via city bus.
 

Kavanah @ Kyoto, living freely.A new chapter of life begins in Kyoto.