🍁 Kyoto

🌟 Kyoto's [Jingū-ji] 🌟 Recommendation Index: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌿 Jingū-ji, nestled in the mountains of Takano in the northwest of Kyoto, is one of Kyoto's oldest and most distinguished temples, with a long and illustrious history. The Japanese monk Kūkai, who was sent to China and featured in the movie "Legend of the Demon Cat," served as the head priest here for 14 years. 🌿 Jingū-ji boasts numerous treasures from the early Heian period to the early Kamakura period, including the Japanese national treasure Yakushi Nyorai statue, and is also home to one of Japan's three famous bells, the national treasure Dharani Bell. 🌿 This site is a renowned spot for maple viewing in Japan. The view from the deepest part of the temple, the Jizo-in, overlooking the brocade-like clouds and streams, with the abundant red maples, further accentuates its ancient charm, both majestic and harmoniously natural. 🌿 The temple was founded by Koremaro, a promoter of the Heian capital relocation and a driving force behind the construction of the new city. His vow, made during a divine revelation from the Usa Hachiman deity to transcribe all scriptures, create Buddha statues, build a monastery, and pray for peace through the ages, is said to be the origin of the temple's name. 🌿 The Takano Valley, where the temple is located, has been a favored autumn destination for nobility in Kyoto since ancient times. The leaves here turn red from mid-to-late October to early December, with the peak of the season enveloping the entire mountain in a sea of red, marking the climax of the maple viewing season. The valley is filled with maple and maple trees that are hundreds of years old, and the vibrant colors of the entire mountain have been famous in Japan since ancient times. 🌿 When you visit Jingū-ji, you can also pay a visit to the nearby Saimei-ji and Kōzan-ji. Although smaller in scale than Jingū-ji, both have their unique charms, with Saimei-ji being a subsidiary temple of Jingū-ji. 🌿 If you love and hate the crowded Kyoto during the red leaf season, or if you have experienced the throngs at Kiyomizu-dera and Tenryū-ji, then you might consider a visit to Jingū-ji. Here, you'll find even more stunning autumn reds and a more serene ancient temple. 🌈 Address: 〒616-8292 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Ukyou-ku, Umegahata, Takanocho 5 #JapanMapleViewing #KyotoTravel #JapanFreeTravel #JapanTravel #JapanChauffeurTour #JapanTourism #KansaiTravel #JapanAttractions #JapanOffTheBeatenPath