Your Donations are Appreciated!
Our temple was established in 1546. Since then, the main hall was burned down
six times, but was rebuilt each time with the unwavering support of our followers.
It shows how people in Japan have embraced the Buddhadharma through Shinran
6KĿQLQ·VWHDFKLQJ
The present temple building, rebuilt in 1971 after it burned down in 1962, wasdesigned as a fusion of Japanese and Western architecture. It is so huge, PDJQLÀFHQW
and gorgeous but is also a simple representation of the beauty of Amida Buddha·s
Pure Land.
More than 40 years have passed since its reconstruction. We have embarked on arenovation project to repair the roof tiles, and to install handicap-accessible elevatorsand bathrooms in 2020.
With a donation of every ten thousand yen, you will be entitled to have your namewritten on a new roof tile and to receive a beautiful bookmark as a gift.
Why not leave your name on a roof tile in commemoration of your visit to Kanazawa
and of your encounter with the teaching of $PLGD%XGKKD·V3Xre Land?
Your donation will be greatly appreciated.

Higashi HonganjiKanazawa Betsuinࣸ൲်ۡణ୉
൥ඇ༝Kanazawa Betsuin is also called 2\DPDJREĿ a word used to refer to a temple
with deep respect and friendliness. It also signifies a spirit to maintain andspread the Buddhadharma around the world.
This is the main temple of the Kanazawa DUHD where people can encounter theBuddhadharma through the teaching of Shin Buddhism.
We hope that your visit to our temple will give you an opportunity toexperience the teaching of Shin Buddhism which is deeply ingrained in theminds of the Japanese people.

What’s Shin Buddhism?
Higashi Honganji Kanazawa Betsuin
15-52 YDVXHFKĿ.DQD]DZD&LWy,
Ishikawa Prefecture, 920-0854 Japan
Phone: 076-261-6432
Visiting Hours: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Daily Morning Service: 7:00am
Dharma Talk (JP): (Mon.-Sun.) 1:30pm
Sunday Service: 9:00am

Kanazawa Sta.
Garden HotelStoreKoban★Kanazawa Betsuin
There are many traditional Japanese gift shops on
the Kanazawa 2PRWHVDQGĿ Street that runs in frontof the main gate of our temple.

Kanazawa Sky Hotelr.
do StMeitetsu M'ZAe-sanOmot
Department StoreTo Korinbo/ Katamachi
Hakomachi Shopping MallOmicho Market
To Owari-cho/ Higashi Chaya District

Shin Buddhism (Jpn. -ĿGR 6KLQVKŗ is a path of the Buddhadharma founded by Shinran
ShĿnin (1173–1262). Through encountering his teacher HĿnen ShĿnin (1133–1212),
Shinran 6KĿQLQ discovered the true essence of Buddhist teachings in the Nenbutsu pathof the Primal Vow, which opens up a path for anyone, including himself, to transcendlife and death and to overcome VXͿHULQJ and anxieties. Therefore, for us living in such
WXUEXOHQWWLPHVWKLVWHDFKLQJFDQEHDJXLGLQJOLJKWWRÀQGWKe true meaning of life.
For more information on the teaching, visit our web site (http://www.higashihonganji.
or.jp/english/) and The Eastern Buddhist Society (http://web.otani.ac.jp/EBS/index.
html).
Our temple is open to the public every day. In addition to regular services, we canprovide a venue for special ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. Please contact
RXUR΀FHIRUPRre information.
We hope that your visit to our temple is enjoyable and gives you an opportunity WRÀQG
the true meaning of life through the teaching of Shin Buddhism!

② 6KLQUDQ6KĿQLQ
The image of Shinran 6KĿQLQ (1173–1262), thefounder of the -ĿGR 6KLQVKŗ tradition, hangs tothe right of Amida Buddha.

②

③

④

①

The main hall is composed of two areas: the altar area(Naijin) and the seating area (Gejin and Sankei-seki).
The altar area represents the beauty of Amida Buddha’s
Pure Land with the glorious decorations. By contrast, theseating area, which has with little decoration, represents
the world we live in.
Only ministers are allowed to enter the altar area.
Please sit quietly and refrain from taking pictures in themain hall.

④⑥The image of Rennyo ShĿnin (1415–1499), the8th Abbot of the Honganji Temple hangs to theleft of Amida Buddha. He is regarded as thesecond founder of our tradition because of histremendous contribution to the propagation ofthe teaching.

④ Other Scrolls⑤0DLQ+DOO +RQGĿ③ 5HQQ\R6KĿQLQ⑦① Amida Buddha
The central Àgure in the altar is Amida Buddha who symbolizes the wisdom and compassion
inherent in the enlightenment of the ŊăNyamuni Buddha. Unlike many other Buddhist images
with Buddhas meditating in a seated position, the image of Amida Buddha of our denominationis standing and slightly leaning forward as if he was ready to move into action to relieve us fromWKHVXͿHULQJFDXVHGE\RXURZQLJQRUDQFH◆ The Etiquette for Visiting a Temple
1. Shoes are taken RͿ and placed neatly at the entrance before entering a hall or a tatami matroom.
2. Please sit quietly in the hall and refrain from taking pictures where it is not allowed.
3. Come to the front of the central ÀJXre in the altar and RͿHU incense two times. Then quietly
do gasshĿ which is the gesture of placing the hands together in front of the chest. It
symbolizes the unity of oneself with the Buddha and is the highest form of respect.
4. It would be greatly apprHFLDWHGLI\RXFRXOGPDNHDGRQDWLRQDWWKHLQFHQVHRͿHULQJWDEOH

To the far right hang three scrolls depicting
the successive generations of abbots of ourdenomination. To the far left hang two scrolls.
The scroll closer to the center depicts an image ofPrince 6KĿWRNX (574–621), who is revered as theFather of Japanese Buddhism.
Another scroll depicts the Seven Patriarchs,
who are regarded as essential in the transmission of ŊăN\Dmuni’steaching. They are 1ăJăUMXQD (c. 150–250) and Vasubandhu (c. 320–400)
of India, Tanluan (476–542), Daochuo (562–645), and Shandao (613–681)
RI&KLQD*HQVKLQ ² DQG+ĿQHQ 1133–1212) of Japan.

⑤ Flowers
Flowers adorn the altar. They are appreciated not only for their beauty,
but also as a symbol of impermanence; they are beautiful in the morning,
and will fade in the heat of the day. They remind us of the continuouschange within and around us.

⑥ Candlelight
The lights burning in the altar symbolize wisdom, the light throughwhich we understand truth. For Buddhists, wisdom is realized onlythrough daily life. Other lamps that adorn the altar also symbolize theillumination that the Dharma brings to our lives.

⑦ Decorative TUDQVRP .DUDVDPD Decorative transom is made in a thick wooden board with elaborated
openwork. It describes a scene in which celestial nymphs are performing
ancient court music (Gagaku).

◆ Construction Information

The main hall was rebuilt in 1971 after it was burned down in 1962.
Dimension: 1,151.41㎡ (12,393.67 ft2)
Height: 30 m (98.43 ft.)
Depth: 35.7 m (117.1 ft.)
Width: 37.6 m (123.4 ft.)