Kyoto 2019: Nisonin Temple (二尊院)

As I continued my tour around western Kyoto I moved northwards and next arrived at Nisonin Temple. Just outside the temple gates a tourist rickshaw had come to a stop and the guide/runner was giving his passengers some info about Nisonin. I’ve never made use of tourist rickshaws on any of my journeys overseas but they might be kind of fun to try at some point.

Just past the temple gate is a long, serene pathway lined with trees. Some of the tree leaves were starting to change colors and I imagine this pathway looks amazing when peak autumn colors arrive.

At the end of the pathway are Nisonin’s central complex and the temple’s main hall. Nisonin Temple was first founded in 834 but all of its original buildings were destroyed in the 1400s and not everything was rebuilt in the years afterwards. Up until 1868 when the emperor was relocated to Tokyo, Nisonin Temple was one of four temples in Kyoto where Buddhist ceremonies were performed for members of Japan’s royal family.

Up the hill from the main hall is a cemetery that holds the remains of many emperors and nobles. You can also get a modest view of northwestern Kyoto from up there.