THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
July 28, 2023 at 16:07 JST
KYOTO--Visitors to the ancient capital will get their prayers answered this autumn as rare cultural properties will go on display at more than a dozen locations including six sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Fifteen landmarks, mostly Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, will be featured in the special exhibitions for a month from late October.
Kosanji temple’s Kondo hall will be on display for the first time. The building has been restored after suffering serious damage in a typhoon in 2018.
The Hojo hall of Rokuonji temple, commonly known as Kinkakuji temple with its famed golden pavilion, will be open to the public for the first time in nine years.
Nishi Hongwanji temple will welcome visitors to its Hiunkaku pavilion and Shoin hall.
These and three other facilities are scheduled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their registration as World Heritage sites next year.
The special showings are the latest in a series regularly organized by the Kyoto Heritage Preservation Association. The Asahi Shimbun is a special sponsor.
Four venues are featured in the special exhibition weeks for the first time.
Yasakajinja shrine’s main hall, which was designated a national treasure in 2020, will be open to the public.
Buildings and statues at Horinji temple, Ichinenji temple and Meikakuji templ will also be on display.
These Jodo Shinshu temples are celebrating this year the 850th anniversary of the birth of Shinran, a medieval saint who founded the Buddhist sect.
The schedule for the exhibitions is as follows: Kamigamojinja shrine and Shimogamojinja shrine, both World Heritage sites, from Oct. 28 to Nov. 26; Chion-in temple from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6; Rokuonji temple and Toji temple’s Gojunoto pagoda, both World Heritage sites, from Nov. 1 to 12; Reizeike, the former residence of the Reizei family, from Nov. 2 to 5; Yasakajinja shrine from Nov. 2 to 12; Sennyuji temple’s Honbo main hall and Reimeiden hall from Nov. 6 to 19; Kosanji temple, a World Heritage site, from Nov. 11 to 20; Hiunkaku pavilion and Shoin hall of Nishi Hongwanji temple, a World Heritage site, from Nov. 12 to 21; Horinji temple and Ichinenji temple from Nov. 12 to 20; Meikakuji temple from Nov. 13 to 26 (closed on Nov. 19); and Rozanji temple from Nov. 17 to 26.
Admission is 1,000 yen ($7.20) for adults and 500 yen for junior and senior high school students per location. The fees differ at some venues.
Proceeds from the exhibition will be used to repair and preserve cultural properties.
For details, visit the association’s official website at (http://www.kobunka.com/tokubetsu/index.html).
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