Saimyo-ji is one of the three temple of the Takao area in Kyoto, the two other ones being Jingo-ji and Kozan-ji. The temple was founded in early 8th century by a monk named Chisen.
Like its two neighbours, Saimyo-ji is known for its beautiful autumn colours. The temples grounds, however, don't have many special features; the best views are more around the the area, especially the bridge that leads to the temple. However, despite the rain, there were still quite a few tourists when I visited in autumn. If the weather is good, the distance from Kyoto of these three temples will not deter bus-loads of tourists. As an alternative to autumn, the isolated and mountainous area makes it a good candidate for a winter trip. Recommended for: Access: Nearby: Jingo-ji 神護寺 (470m), Kōzan-ji 高山寺 (480m) External links: ウィキペディア, Kyoto Navi, Trip Advisor, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Inside Kyoto, Marutake, そうだ京都, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, 西明寺, temple, Saimyo-ji, 寺院, 仏閣 Statistics: visited on 4 occasions, id 319, 10 photos (15 extra photos can be found in the archive). |
