Buddhist temple
Shōgo-in
聖護院（しょうごいん）
Sakyō, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
The head temple of the Honzan Shugen school in Sakyō, Kyoto, a monzeki temple whose abbots were members of the imperial family. Its principal image is a statue of Fudō Myōō made in the late Heian period (Important Cultural Property), and it continues the mountain-entry training of Shugendō in the lineage of En no Gyōja.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal image: Fudō Myōō
History and things to know
According to the temple's tradition, it began in Kanji 4 (1090), when Archbishop Zōyo was granted a temple by Retired Emperor Shirakawa and named it Shōgo-in in recognition of his service in protecting the emperor's person. It moved from place to place within the city because of wars and fires, and was rebuilt on its present site in Enpō 4 (1676). After the Great Fire of Tenmei, Emperor Kōkaku resided here for about three years, and it is designated a historic site as a temporary imperial palace. About 200 wall and screen paintings by the Kanō school remain in the Shinden.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
Ordinarily, worship is free, and you can pay respects at the Fudō Hall at the back of the garden and in the buddha room on the second floor of the temple office building. Viewing of the Shinden's wall paintings and the Buddhist statues is limited to paid viewing periods, such as the autumn special opening.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 聖護院「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-21 確認）
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