Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)

Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)Amida-ji (阿弥陀寺)

Amida-ji is a small temple in the northern tip of the Ohara, an isolated valley itself located north of Kyoto. Reaching Amida-ji is a bit complicated with few buses running from the main terminal in Ohara. The last part of the journey involves a steep path, straight uphill in the forest. All this contributes in making Amida-ji the least popular of the temples in Ohara. The temple is, however, a nice destination in autumn for momiji as it is less crowded than the other spots like Sanzen-in. While not popular it is still appreciated by people in the know: it has about 300 maple, including an 800 years old tree classified as National Monument.

The temple was founded in 1569 during the Edo period, but the Chinese-style gate that is found at the foot of the path is younger (1776). A mausoleum contains the mummified body of the temple's founder Tanzei Shonin. He in fact started the mummification process while he was still alive, through his severe ascetic discipline. When he was "ready", he entered the cave carved by his disciples and had them wall the entrance.

Recommended for: Access: 400 円

Nearest location: Keitoku-in 桂德院 (1.7km)

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, Ohara, Amida-ji, 阿弥陀寺, temple, 寺院, 仏閣

Statistics: visited on 6 occasions, id 484, 30 photos (7 extra photos can be found in the archive).

Photos of Amida-ji:

The mountain temple of Amida-ji, Ohara valley, Kyoto, Japan
Dry tsukubai water basin in the remote mountain temple of Amida-ji, Kyoto, Japan
Stone lantern and new maple leaves season (shinryoku) in Amidaji temple, Kyoto, Japan
The lower gate of Amidaji temple in the Ohara valley, Kyoto, Japan
Remote temple gate in forest, Ohara valley, Kyoto
Fog descending on the entrance gate of Amidaji, a mountain temple in the north of Kyoto, Japan
The entrance gate of Amida-ji temple in autumn, Ohara valley, Kyoto, Japan
Main hall terrace and autumn colours in Amida-ji temple in the mountains of Ohara valley, Kyoto, Japan
Early autumn foliage in the Amidaji mountain temple, Kyoto, Japan
Japanese garden in the clouds: autumn in Amidaji temple, Ohara, Japan
The lower gate of Amidaji temple in late autumn, in the Ohara valley north of Kyoto city, Japan
Autumn colours surrounding the lower entrance gate of Amida-ji temple in the Ohara valley of Kyoto, Japan
The entrance gate of Amida-ji temple in autumn, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colours around the lower gate of Amida-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Autumn colours around perched traditional building in Amida-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Orange autumn colours surrounding traditional Japanese building precariously perched on a cliff in Amida-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Muted autumn colours around the mountain temple of Amida-ji, Kyoto, Japan
Ever-red maple tree in spring in the mountain temple of Amida-ji, Kyoto, Japan
Ever-red maple tree and shakunage bush blooming over the small moss and rock garden of Amida-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Large shakunage bushes in full bloom and ever-red maple tree in Amida-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Hydrangea blooming in spring together with ever-red maple trees, Amidaji temple, Kyoto, Japan
Two ever-red maple trees in the mountain temple of Amida-ji, Kyoto, Japan