Kurama-dera Temple, Minamoto no Yoshitsune

The information about Kurama-dera Temple is presented here. Kurama-dera Temple is famous as the temple where Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Ushiwakamaru) practiced asceticism in the late Heian period (794-1185). Minamoto no Yoshitsune is said to have entered Kurama-dera Temple at the age of 7 and left Kurama-dera Temple at the age of 16 to go down to Hiraizumi in Oshu (Iwate Prefecture). Legend has it that Minamoto no Yoshitsune practiced Buddhist asceticism during the day at Tokobo, which was located in the upper part of Yuki Shrine, and was taught the art of war by a tengu at Sojo-gatani (valley) at night. Minamoto no Yoshitsune was instrumental in the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, but later fell out with Minamoto no Yoritomo, the 1st Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, and fell back to Hiraizumi, but was attacked by Fujiwara no Hidehira, the 3rd head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, in 1189 and committed suicide.

• Temple Location Map ＆ Directions
• Temple History
• Temple Highlights

【Kurama-dera Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 1074 Kurama Hon-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Kurama station (about 5 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 9:00-16:30
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: 500 yen

【Kurama-dera Temple History】

Mt. Kurama-yama, where Kurama-dera Temple (鞍馬寺) is built, is a mountain with an altitude of about 584 meters. Mt. Kurama-yama is sandwiched between the Kurama-gawa River on the east side and the Kibune-gawa River on the west side, and the ridge runs from north to south. Mt. Kurama-yama has been considered a sacred mountain since ancient times and flourished as a training ground for the Shugendo sect. Kurama-dera Temple is said to have originated in 770, when Gantei-shonin, a disciple of Ganjin-wajo, the founder of the Ritsu sect, built a hermitage to worship Bishamonten. According to the “Anbagaiji Engi,” on the night of the tiger, January 4th, 770, Gantei-shonin was attacked by a demon woman while climbing Mt. Kurama-yama under the guidance of a dream announcement and a white horse, but the demon woman was crushed by a falling dead tree. The next morning, Gantei-shonin found Bishamonten there, and it is said that Gantei-shonin was saved by Bishamonten, so he built a hermitage to worship Bishamonten. In 796, Fujiwara no Isendo wanted to build a do (hall) to enshrine Kanzeon Bosatsu (Kannon Bosatsu), and with the help of a dream announcement and a white horse, he climbed Mt. Kurama-yama and found the hermitage of Gantei-shonin, where Bishamonten was enshrined. That night, there was a dream announcement that “Bishamonten and Kanzeon Bosatsu (Kannon Bosatsu) are basically one and the same,” so he built a temple complex and enshrined Bishamonten, and then created a Senju Kannon (thousand-handed Kannon) and enshrined it. In the “Nihon Koki”), it is written that the deity of Kifune Shrine appeared to Fujiwara no Isendo in his dream, and he was commissioned to build Kurama-dera Temple. It is said that during the Kanpei period (889-897), Buen, a monk from To-ji Temple, entered the temple and converted Kurama-dera Temple to the Shingon sect. In 940, Yuki Daimyojin was transferred from the imperial court to Mt. Kurama-yama, and Yuki Shrine became the guardian shrine of Kurama-dera Temple. In the middle of the Heian period (794-1185), the 72nd Emperor Shirakawa, Fujiwara no Michinaga, Fujiwara no Yorimichi, Fujiwara no Moromichi and others visited Kurama-dera Temple. Sei Shonagon, the author of “Makura no Soshi”, wrote, “The road is near and yet far, the itinerary of Kurama no Tsuzuraori. Kurama-dera Temple was destroyed by fire in 1126. In the late Heian period (794-1185), Jui, a monk from Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple, entered the temple and converted from the Shingon sect to the Tendai sect during the Hoen period (1135-1140), and Kurama-dera Temple came to belong to Shoren-in Temple. In the late Heian period (794-1185), Minamoto no Yoshitsune, also known as Ushiwakamaru, entered Kurama-dera Temple. Legend has it that Minamoto no Yoshitsune practiced Buddhist asceticism during the day at Tokobo, which was located in the upper part of Yuki Shrine, and was taught the art of war by a tengu at the Sojo-gatani (valley) at night. In 1229, Shoren-in Temple began to serve as the kenko-shoku post of Kurama-dera Temple, and Kurama-dera Temple officially became a branch temple of Shoren-in Temple. In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Muromachi shogun, and Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th Muromachi shogun, held a cherry blossom viewing at Kurama-dera Temple. It is said that in 1572, Takeda Shingen sent a letter of thanks to Kurama-dera Temple for the victory. It is said that in 1580, an andojo of Oda Nobunaga’s deputy arrived at Kurama-ji Temple. It is said that in 1585, Kurama-dera Temple received a shuinjo of tax exemption from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi prayed for the recovery of his mother, Omandokoro (Naka, Tenzuin), and donated 2,000 koku to Kurama-dera Temple. In 1610, Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rebuilt Yuki Shrine. In 1730, Kurama-dera Temple became a branch temple of Nikko Rinno-ji Temple and Shoren-in Temple. In the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), Kurama-dera Temple had ten sub-temples (Shinsho-in, Gesho-in, Myoju-in, Hoshaku-in, Daizo-in, Kisho-in, Kaiko-in, Kanki-in, Enko-in, and Fusho-in) and nine bo (Fumon-bo, Shoen-bo, Myokaku-bo, Yakushi-bo, Honju-bo, Joen-bo, Umemoto-bo, Jiso-bo, and Kurano-bo), and flourished. In 1814, Kurama-dera Temple was destroyed by fire and fell into decline. In 1855, Kurama-dera Temple became the only branch temple of Nikko Rinno-ji Temple, but in 1868, Kurama-dera Temple returned to being the branch temple of Shoren-in Temple. In 1945, Honden-Kondo and other temple buildings were destroyed by fire, and Honden-Kondo was rebuilt in 1971. In 1947, Shigaraki Koun founded the Kurama Kokyo sect, which became independent from the Tendai sect in 1949. In 2018, Haiden collapsed due to Typhoon No. 21, and there was damage from fallen trees in the temple grand.
*reference・・・Kurama-dera Temple website

【Kurama-dera Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Honden-Kondo (本殿金堂) was destroyed by fire in 1945 and rebuilt in 1971. Honden-Kondo is Honden (main hall) and the central dojo. Honden-Kondo houses the main statue of Senju Kannon Bosatsu, Bishamonten, and Gohomaoson, also known as Sonten. The main hall also houses the statues of En no Gyoja and Shanaoson (Minamoto no Yoshitsune).
★Okuno-in Maoden (Haiden, 奥の院魔王殿) is said to have been destroyed by fire in 1945 and rebuilt in 1950. Okuno-in Maoden is built on a strange rock on the way to Kifune Shrine from Honden-Kondo. Okuno-in Maoden enshrines Maoson (Sanat Kumara), who is said to have descended from Venus to Earth 6.5 million years ago.
★Nio-mon (Nio-mon Gate, 仁王門) was destroyed by fire in 1891 and rebuilt in 1911. Nio-mon is the boundary to the Pure Land. Nio-mon houses the statue of Nioson, which is said to have been created by Tankei, the eldest son of the Buddhist sculptor Unkei. It is said that the statue of Nioson was moved from Tamba Province when Kurama-dera Temple was rebuilt.
鞍馬寺見どころ (Kurama-dera Temple Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Uesaku-sai (五月満月祭) is held every year on the night of the full moon in May. At Uesaku-sai, we pray for the awakening and peace of all through Uesakusai, where we offer fresh water on the full moon of May.
★Takekiri-eshiki (竹伐り会式) is held every year on June 20th. In Shobu-kiri, Kurama-hoshi, dressed as a monk soldier, is divided into two groups, the Omi-za and the Tanba-za, and they cut down a 4-meter-long, 10-centimeter-thick piece of green bamboo resembling a daija (giant snake) with a sharp sword, and predict the harvest by how fast they cut it down.
★Yoshitsune-sai is held every year on September 15th. Yoshitsune-sai is a memorial service in honor and memory of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. At Yoshitsune-sai, shizu-no-odamaki (dance) associated with Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his concubine, Shizuka Gozen, are dedicated.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is around mid-April. About 500 cherry trees, including Yama-zakura, Somei Yoshino, Sato-zakura, Yae-zakura, and Ukon, are planted, and the cherry blossoms around Nio-mon and the weeping cherry blossoms in front of Taho-to are said to be beautiful. Regardless of the variety of the cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms have long been called “Usu-zakura”.
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is around early November. Maple trees and other trees are distributed, and visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage along the tsuzura-ori (path) leading from Nio-mon to Honden-Kondo. From Honden-Kondo, visitors can see the autumn leaves on the expanse of Mt. Hiei.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-741-2003

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Kurama-dera Temple is to walk from Nio-mon to Honden-Kondo without using the cable car. However, it is not recommended to take a strenuous walk, as there are steep mountain trails leading up to Honden-Kondo. Since Kurama-dera Temple is far from the city center and there are not many tourist spots around it, you may want to go to the nearest tourist spot and walk around the area around the tourist spot.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】
If you plan to visit Kurama-dera Temple, be sure to check the latest information.