# Chion-in, Japan: what it is and when to go > Chion-in is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (知恩院). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. It has articles in 19 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chion-in/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan · Temples - **Local name:** 知恩院 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 81 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Mo-Su 09:00-16:00 - **Website:** [chion-in.or.jp](https://www.chion-in.or.jp/) - **Coordinates:** 35.00552, 135.78324 ## What it is and where Chion-in is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (知恩院). It has articles in 19 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Kyoto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kioto/), where this site lists 205 more places to see, 4.3 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 35.00552, 135.78324; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 81 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.005516%2C135.78324) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.005516%2C135.78324) It is one of the [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Chion-in is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 53 | | February | Best time | 10 h 44 | | March | Best time | 11 h 44 | | April | Best time | 12 h 53 | | May | Best time | 13 h 50 | | June | Possible | 14 h 20 | | July | Possible | 14 h 08 | | August | Possible | 13 h 19 | | September | Possible | 12 h 12 | | October | Best time | 11 h 06 | | November | Best time | 10 h 07 | | December | Possible | 9 h 39 | In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Shōren-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shoren-in/): Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan · 219 m - [KYOTO TRAIL HIGASHIYAMA 21:30-2](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-trail-higashiyama-21-30-2/): Hiking · 364 m - [Yasaka Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yasaka-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan · 497 m - [Koto Inn](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/koto-inn/): History · 541 m - [Kōdai-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kodai-ji/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan · 603 m Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: Temples - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan - [Hōryū-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horyu-ji/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan - [Ise Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ise-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Mie Prefecture, Japan - [Kōtoku-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kotoku-in/): Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan - [Byōdō-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/byodo-in/): Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan Every Japan place under Temples, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Chion-in? It is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (知恩院 in the local language). It has articles in 19 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Chion-in? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. ### How do you get to Chion-in? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 81 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.005516%2C135.78324) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Shōren-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shoren-in/), [KYOTO TRAIL HIGASHIYAMA 21:30-2](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-trail-higashiyama-21-30-2/), [Yasaka Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yasaka-shrine/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/456122965), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q873645), CC0. More about Chion-in on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9F%A5%E6%81%A9%E9%99%A2). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).