Shōren-in, Buddhist temple in Higashiyama district, Kyoto, Japan
Shōren-in is a Buddhist temple in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto that includes several halls connected by covered wooden walkways. The grounds extend across two garden areas where appearance shifts with each season, from delicate green in spring to glowing red in autumn.
The complex took shape in 1150 as a residence for high Buddhist priests from Mount Hiei. The buildings moved to their current location during later centuries when the connection to the Tendai sect solidified.
The temple maintained its connection to imperial families, as princes traditionally lived here as abbots and this historical role remains visible in the architecture today. Visitors see rooms with painted sliding doors and wide verandas that open views onto groomed moss landscapes and ponds.
The grounds sit just a few walking minutes from Higashiyama subway station or Jingu-michi bus stop, making it easy to reach on foot. Interior spaces require shoe removal, so wearing slip-on footwear helps.
Several centuries-old camphor trees stand on the grounds and were planted by Shinran himself, the founder of another Buddhist school. The city of Kyoto recognized these trees as natural monuments since their broad trunks and far-reaching branches tower over the pathways.
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