Kurama-dera
鞍馬寺
An ancient temple among the Kitayama cedar forests of Kyoto, said to be where the young Minamoto no Yoshitsune trained. You can climb up to pray, then cross the old mountain path down to Kibune.
Kurama-dera is on Mt. Kurama in northern Kyoto. According to tradition, it was founded in the Nara period by Ganjin's disciple Ganshin, and it is the head temple of the Kurama Kōkō sect. It is famous for its tengu legends and for Ushiwakamaru (the young Minamoto no Yoshitsune), who trained here as a child. From Kurama Station on the Eizan Electric Railway, the Niō-mon gate is right there. You can take a short cable car or walk the Kyūjūkyū-Orisando approach for about 30 minutes to reach the main Kondō hall. The six-pointed star pattern on the vajra floor in front of the hall is regarded as a power spot. On clear days you can see Mt. Hiei from here. Behind the main hall, you can continue on the old Kurama mountain trail, passing the Ki no Ne Michi (Tree Root Path), where cedar roots are exposed, and the Okunoin Maō-den hall. Crossing the mountain takes about 1.5 hours to descend to Kibune. Admission is about 500 yen, and the cable car is an extra fare one way. To get there, take the Eizan Electric Railway from Demachiyanagi Station for about 30 minutes to Kurama Station. The mountain paths are steep, so wear sneakers. During autumn foliage season in November, the scenery from the windows along the “Koyo Tunnel” section of the Eizan line is also famous.
Opening hours
09:00–16:15
Nearby sights
- Kifune Shrine
- Kamigamo Shrine
- Sanzen-in, Ohara
- Rurikoin
- Daitoku-ji
- Shimogamo Shrine
- Enryaku-ji, Mt. Hiei
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)