Hondo(the main hall)

This temple has a main hall designated as a national treasure and a collection of Buddhist statues by famous Buddhist priests representing the Kamakura period. There are many Buddhist statues that have made their mark on history as temple treasures that should be regarded as treasures of Japan.

Daikon(Japanese white radish)cooking

Originally, the Sanskrit characters of Buddha were carved on the cut end of the radish and offered to the worshippers to ward off evil spirits,so they started burning this radish and offering it to the worshippers.

Nowadays, a Buddhist memorial service is held and seasoned and stewed daikon is burned with fried bean curd.

Overview

Senbon-Shaka-do (Daihoonji Temple) was founded by Priest Giku in the first year of Anjo (1227) in the early Kamakura period about 800 years ago. The main hall is designated as a national treasure as the oldest building in Kyoto, which miraculously survived the Onin and Bunmei wars.