Entsu-ji (圓通寺) is located in the northern part of Kyoto, near the "Kokusaikaikan", the place where the Kyoto Protocol was devised. The Japanese name can also be written "円通寺", like a couple of other temple (圓徳院, 圓光寺). I suspect that "円" is a simplified version of the older character "圓". Anyway...
Entsu-ji was originally a villa built in 1639 by emperor Gomino. It was later converted to a temple, like many villas belonging to influential people (emperors, poets, writers, painters, daimyos, etc.) Their original purpose gives a hint on what you will find there: nice gardens and low buildings (no big main temple hall). My favourite places :-)
The garden of Entsu-ji has a few unique points. First it is delimited by a hedge, which not very common (walls were more popular back in the days). Also, instead of lying in a closed space, the garden is (partially) open and thus includes the surrounding landscape in its composition, particularly Mt Hiei which can be seen in the distance (when the weather is good!). At last, several tall pine trees are growing along the hedge, splitting the "borrowed" landscape of Mt Hiei and giving it a bit of extra structure. Other than that, the garden is classic, mostly covered by moss and groups of stones. Flowering plants are also placed here and there, satsuki and tsutsuji rhododendrons for the most part.
Entsu-ji is a bit in the middle of nowhere, but can be visited in combination with Myouman-ji (妙満寺), Jisso-in (実相院) or a trip to Kibune (貴船)/Kurama (鞍馬). Recommended for: Access: Nearby: Myōman-ji 妙満寺 (650m) External links: ウィキペディア, Kyoto Navi, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, 南左京, Sakyo-ku, 圓通寺, Entsu-ji, temple, 寺院, 仏閣 Statistics: visited on 3 occasions, id 330, 7 photos (8 extra photos can be found in the archive). |
