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Kurama Temple

Travel Information

Kurama Temple (鞍馬寺) is one of the popular temples located in Northern Kyoto. It was established in 770 by priest Gantei. It is located on Mt. Kurama which is one of the sacred mountains in Kyoto. Mt. Kurama is 584m and the origin of Kamo River in Kyoto.
This temple was used to be Shudendo temple. Many people including Minamoto no Yoshitsune trained here.

Visitor's Info.
There are parking and restroom.
Admission: 300 yen
Time:9:00 to 16:00

Access
0. at Kyoto Station.
1. use JR Nara Line to Tofukuji Station.
2. use Keihan Line to Takaragaike Station.
3. use Eizan Kurama Line to Kurama.


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Map around Kurama Temple

Detailed Travel Guide

Kurama Temple
Kurama-dera is a temple in the far north of Kyoto, Japan which houses some National Treasures of Japan.

The temple was founded in the 8th century. Its origins are historically unclear, but it is said that the Chinese priest Jianzhen initiated a disciple into the Buddhist path, who saw in a dream in 772 that Mt. Kurama had spiritual power and built an esoteric temple to concentrate and control this power. It was burned down many times throughout the medieval era but the Buddhist statues and treasures inside it were always rescued and are today National Treasures. It is still believed today that tengu and other mountain spirits live in this area.

The temple switched between three different Buddhist sects over the centuries. Finally, in the postwar era, abbot Kouun Shigaraki founded his own religion and split the temple away from Buddhism. Thus the temple was finally able to reconcile with its yamabushi patrons and other unaffiliated, esoteric adherents of mountain worship.