Enryaku-Ji on Mount Hieizan
Cost
Attractions > Kyoto > Shrines Temples > Kyoto North
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Enraku-Ji in the Autumn by 663highland (GNU Free)
About
Headquarters for the Tendai sect, Enryaku-Ji is a Buddhist temple on Hiei Mountain near Kyoto. Established in 788 by monk Saicho with the support of Emperor Kammu, it is one of the most significant monasteries in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This monastery was extreme... monks lived in seclusion for 12 years and in it's heyday was a huge complex of thousands of monks and... Warrior Monks (Sohei). It is also famous for being the home of the "Marathon Monks" (Kaihougyou) which required incredible meditation, study and completion of the "Kaihyougou" which ranks among the most demanding physical and mental challenges in the world! Even to this day! Since 1885 only 46 men have completed the challenge.
In 1571 the Warlord Oda Nobunaga ended the powerful reign of this monastery (and to remove any potential rivals to unite the country at the time) by attacking, killing all the monks and burning all the structures to the ground... only some of the minor structures actaully survived the attack. Most of the structures at Enryaku-Ji are from the 16th and 17th century when the temple was reconstructed after a change of government.
There are 3 main areas in the complex: "Todo" area where the monestary was originally founded, the "Saito" area which has the oldest building on the mountain and the "Yokawa" area which is quite a walk away (several kilometers) and is not visited by many tourists but is quite beautiful.
Access
Closest Train Station: Sakamoto-hieizanguchi
4220 Sakamotohonmachi
Otsu, Shiga 520-0116 Japan
Tel: 077-578-0001
Enryakuji Temple is on top of Hieizan Mountain. You either have to take a cable-car, bus or drive.
Bus: from Kyoto Station (ask your hotel clerk or information desk at Kyoto station). Does NOT operate in the winter. Takes about an hour and there are 4-6 buses a day. Best to make a reservation the day before.
Hotels & Lodging
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Enryaku-Ji on Mount Hieizan.
Hours & Fees
Hours: The grounds of Shrines and Temples are generally open 27/7, 365 days a year but, many set their own hours. If hours are set, they are generally open from 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. in the morning and close around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Enryaku-Ji on Mount Hieizan Homepage
