Kurama-dera, Buddhist temple in Northern Kyoto, Japan
Kurama-dera is a temple perched on Mount Kurama in the northern hills of Sakyō-ku, surrounded by old cedar groves and mountain air. Stone steps wind upward between wooden halls, shrines, and resting pavilions scattered across the slope.
Monk Gancho established the site in 770 after meditating in the surrounding peaks. The community broke away from Tendai Buddhism in 1949 to form its own teaching centered on the mountain's spiritual energy.
The temple follows a distinctive spiritual path called Kurama Kokyo, which teaches that cosmic energy flows through the mountain. Practitioners believe visitors can absorb this natural force by standing at marked power spots along the trails.
Most visitors arrive in the morning and use the small cable car to shorten the climb, or walk the stone steps through the forest. Sturdy shoes help on uneven paths, especially when damp or after rain.
The grounds preserve a root said to come from the original tree under which Gancho meditated before founding the site. The path over the mountain continues down to Kibune on the other side, making a popular day hike.
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