Story of Hokkeji Imperial Convent
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Main Hall (important cultural artifact) A national treasure and the temple’s principle image of the Buddha, the Eleven-Headed Kannon is enshrined here.
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Empress Komyo (701–760), a key figure in the spread of Buddhism in Japan, established the Hokkeji Imperial Convent on the site of the former mansion of her father, the powerful courtier Fujiwara no Fuhito (659–720). And after the empress’s husband, Emperor Shomu (701–756), designated Todaiji Temple as the head of a state temple complex, Empress Komyo designated Hokkeji as the head of a national system of convents. From the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries, the daughters of imperial and noble families entered Hokkeji as Buddhist nuns.
The name Hokkeji can be roughly translated as the Temple of the Flower of the Law. Empress Komyo encouraged women in the convent to practice ikebana, or flower arrangement, and the Hokkeji Goryu school of ikebana continues to this day.
A deeply devout woman, the empress believed her duty was not only to care for the women in the convent, but also the less fortunate. She established an infirmary, as well as a residence for orphans and the disabled. It is said that she washed the dirt off a thousand people afflicted with illness in the Karafuro bathhouse, which was rebuilt in 1766 and still stands on the temple grounds today.
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Ikebana flowers of Hokkeji Goryu.
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Karafuro, or “empty bath”. It is said that Empress Komyo saved many underprivileged people here with the steam of boiled medicinal plants. These days, we would call the Karafuro a sauna.
The other highlights of Hokkeji include the statues of Eleven-Headed Kannon and Yuimakoji, both National Treasures; the Hokkeji Garden, a National Historic Site famed for its Japanese irises (Iris laevigata); and the Main Hall, Main Gate, and Shoro bell tower, which date to the early seventeenth century.
Precincts
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South Gate (important cultural artifact) This is the main gate of Hokkeji Imperial Convent. It was erected in the same period as the Main Hall.
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Plum flowers blooming in the Karaku-en garden, on the eastern side of the grounds. Wild birds flock here when the flowers are in full bloom.
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Bell Tower (important cultural artifact). Re-constructed in the same period as the Main Hall and South Gate. A bell is hung from the upper level.
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A special lotus that blooms in Karaku-en garden, called the Hokkeji Lotus. The white flower petals have rouge-colored edges. Late June is the best time to see them.
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A poem from the Man’yoshu carved in stone. It is a poem by the Nara period poet, Yamabe Akahito, in which he recollects Empress Komyo’s father, Fujiwara Fuhito.
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Gomado Hall, which stands in a pond. Though it was destroyed in the Muromachi period, it was reconstructed in 2004 after 600 years.
Temple grant
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The Omamori-inu, or “amulet dog”, for a long life and safe birth. It began when Empress Komyo mixed ashes from a memorial service with pure dirt from a mountain, made it into a dog-shaped amulet, and prayed for it to bring sound health. This tradition has been passed down to today, with the chief priest and nuns continuing to make them the old-fashioned way.
- Address
- 882 Hokkeji-cho , Nara 630-8001 , Japan
- Inquiries
- Tel: 0742-33-2261
- Visitor Information
- Opening Hours: 9:00 - 16:30
- Jikōden Hall
- Opening Hours: 9:00 - 16:00
- Entrance Fees:
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- Adults: 800 yen
- Adult groups (20 or more): 700 yen
- Persons with disabilities: 400 yen
- Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen
- Elementary and junior high school students with disabilities: 100 yen, includes garden
※ Due to infection prevention measures, admission tickets may be subject to change.
Please check the announcements page.- Free admission for pre-school children accompanied by a guardian.
- Wheelchairs are not permitted inside Hokkeji halls and buildings.
※ It is possible to go to the front of the Main Hall by wheelchair, though wheelchairs are not permitted inside the Main Hall.
The parking gate can be opened, so please contact in advance - Tel: 0742-33-2261
Free admission for group tour guides and conductors is as follows:
- 20 persons or more: up to 3 persons
- 10 persons or more: up to 2 persons
- 10 persons or fewer: 1 person
- Ancient Hina Doll Exhibition & Scenic Garden Visits
- Special Opening Hours
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- March 1 - March 14: Ancient Hina Doll Exhibition
- March 1 - August 31: National Historic Scenic Garden (excluding periods of special opening of the principal image)
- Adults: 990 yen
- Adult groups (20 or more): 890 yen
- Persons with disabilities: 500 yen
- Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen
- Elementary and junior high school students with disabilities: 100 yen, includes garden
※ Due to infection prevention measures, admission tickets may be subject to change. Please check the announcements page.
※ Garden-only admission tickets have been discontinued.
- Free admission for pre-school children accompanied by a guardian.
- Wheelchairs are not permitted inside Hokkeji halls and buildings.
※ It is possible to go to the front of the Main Hall by wheelchair, though they are not permitted inside the Main Hall.
The parking gate can be opened, so please contact in advance - Tel: 0742-33-2261
Free admission for group tour guides and conductors is as follows:
- 20 persons or more: up to 3 persons
- 10 persons or more: up to 2 persons
- 10 persons or fewer: 1 person
- Spring, June and Autumn Special Openings
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- March 20 – April 7: National Treasure principal image, scenic garden
- June 5 – June 10: National Treasure principal image, scenic garden
※ The opening period from June 5 may be extended.
(Dates may change depending on the day of the week each year)- October 25 – November 10: National Treasure principal image (Main Hall),
National Treasure Amida Triad with attendant child figures (Jikōden Hall)
※ The autumn special opening period follows the Shōsōin Exhibition
- Adults: 1,100 yen
- Adult groups (20 or more): 1,000 yen
- Persons with disabilities: 550 yen
- Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen
- Elementary and junior high school students with disabilities: 100 yen, includes garden
※ Due to infection prevention measures, admission tickets may be subject to change.
Please check the announcements page.
※ Garden-only admission tickets have been discontinued.
- Free admission for pre-school children accompanied by a guardian.
- Wheelchairs are not permitted inside Hokkeji halls and buildings.
※ It is possible to go to the front of the Main Hall by wheelchair, though they are not permitted inside the Main Hall.
The parking gate can be opened, so please contact in advance - Tel: 0742-33-2261
Free admission for group tour guides and conductors is as follows:
- 20 persons or more: up to 3 persons
- 10 persons or more: up to 2 persons
- 10 persons or fewer: 1 person
- Coming by Train or Bus
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- From Kyoto Station
Take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line / Kashihara Line to Yamato-Saidaiji Station (change trains at Yamato-Saidaiji Station to go to Kintetsu Nara Station. There are also Express and Limited Express trains that go straight to Kintetsu Nara Station). Or you can also take the JR Nara Line to Nara Station.- From Kintetsu Nara Station
From Bus Stop 13 on the north side of the Takama Intersection, take the Nara Kotsu bus for “Yamato Saidaiji sta. (Koku-Jietai)” and get off at “Hokkeji”. It is a three-minute walk from there.- From Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station
From Bus Stop 1 outside the north exit, take the Nara Kotsu bus for “JR Nara sta. Nishi-guchi” and get off at “Hokkeji”. It is a three-minute walk from there.- From JR Nara Station
From Bus Stop 15 outside the west exit, take the Nara Kotsu bus for “Yamato Saidaiji sta. (Koku-Jietai)” and get off at “Hokkeji”. It is a three-minute walk from there.
- Coming on Foot
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It is about a 2-minute walk northwest from Kintetsu Shin-Omiya Station.
- Coming by Car
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- From Osaka
Head east on the Hanna Road, and turn left to head north at the intersection of “Nijooji minami 1-chome”. Next head north through the “Komogawabashi-minamizume” intersection (you will see the Nara Royal Hotel) and continue to the traffic signal at the end of the street. Turn left to head west at that traffic signal, and then turn right at the end of the street. The parking lot will be on your right.- From Kyoto
Take the Keinawa Expressway (Nat. Hwy 24) south, and at the “Hokkejicho-higashi” intersection (you will see Ichijo High School on the right) turn right to head west. Next, keep going straight at the “Hokkeji” intersection and turn right at the end of the street. The parking lot will be on your right.- From Tenri
Head north on Nat. Hwy 24, and at the “Komogawabashi-minamizume” intersection (you will see the Nara Royal Hotel) turn left to head north and continue to the traffic signal at the end of the street. Turn left to head west at that traffic signal, and turn right at the end of the street. The parking lot will be on your right.