Yoshimine-dera Temple (Senju Kannon,location,history)

Yoshimine-dera Temple, Senju Kannon

The information about Yoshimine-dera Temple is presented here. Yoshimine-dera Temple was worshipped by Keishoin, the mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th shogun of the Edo shogunate, in the early Edo period, and the existing Kannondo (main hall), Shoro (bell tower), Gomado, Yakushido, Kyodo, and Chinjusha (guardian shrine) were rebuilt. In 1705, Keishoin-byo (mausoleum) was built at Yoshimine-dera Temple to house the hair of Keishoin.

【Yoshimine-dera Temple Location Map & Directions】

Address: 1372 Oshio-cho, Oharano, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Yoshiminedera bus stop (about 8 minutes on foot) (Oshio bus stop in winter)

【Opening Hours & Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00 (Reception closes at 16:45)
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees & Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Adults 500 yen, High School Students 300 yen, Junior High and Elementary School Students 200 yen

【Yoshimine-dera Temple History】

Yoshimine-dera Temple (善峯寺) is said to have originated in 1029 when Gensan-shonin, a disciple of Eshin-sozu Genshin, housesed the statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon), which Gensan-shonin had carved himself, in a small do (hall) and named it Hokke-in Temple of Achisaka. When Gensan-shonin was 47 years old, Gensan-shonin went to the western mountains in search of a sacred place, and okina-shin (God) appeared and said, “I am the landowner of this land, and my name is Achisaka. Build a temple complex. I will give you this land and protect Buddhism forever”. In 1034, the 68th Emperor Go-Ichijo designated Yoshimine-dera Temple as the Chokuganji for the protection of the state and gave it the temple name “Yoshimine-dera”. In 1042, by order of the 69th Emperor Go-Suzaku, the statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon) carved by Ninko-hoshi was moved from Washio-dera Temple in Rakuto to Yoshimine-dera Temple as the main statue. The statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon) by Gensan-shonin was housed separately. In the late Heian period (794-1192), the 72nd Emperor Shirakawa donated to Yoshimine-dera Temple Hondo (main hall), Amidado, Yakushido, Jizodo, Sanjyu-no-to (three-story pagoda), Shoro (bell tower), Nio-mon gate, and Chinjusha (guardian shrine) to Yoshimine-dera Temple. In 1192, Jien (Jichin), the Tendai zasu, lived at Yoshimine-dera Temple and received the imperial inscription “Yoshimine-dera” from the 82nd Emperor Go-Toba. In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Nishiyamanomiya Dokaku Nyudoshinno entered Yoshimine-dera Temple from Shoren-in Temple, and Yoshimine-dera Temple became known as Nishiyama monzeki (Nishiyamanomiya monzeki). Yoshimine-dera Temple was revered by the 88th Emperor Go-Saga and the 89th Emperor Go-Fukakusa in the Kamakura period. During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the number of sobo (monks’ quarters) at Yoshimine-dera Temple was 52. In the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the 102nd Emperor Go-Hanazono donated the temple complex to Yoshimine-dera Temple. In the middle of the Muromachi period, the Onin War (1467-1477) destroyed many of the temple buildings of Yoshimine-dera Temple. In 1687, Keishoin, the birth mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th shogun of the Edo shogunate, donated the “Yaku-yoke no Kane (Bell to ward off evil)” to Yoshimine-dera Temple on the occasion of her son, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi’s 42nd birthday. In 1692, with the donation of Keishoin, Kannondo, Shoro (bell tower), Gomado, Yakushido, Kyodo, Chinjusha (guardian shrine), etc. were rebuilt. Keishoin became the ohdanna (donor) of Yoshimine-dera Temple. In 1876, along with the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, the tablets of the five shinno of Kakukai, Dokaku, Jido, Sonen, and Sondo were moved from Yoshimine-dera Temple to Sennyu-ji Temple. In 1885, Shakydo was built. In 1977, Taho-to (pagoda) was designated as an important cultural property.
*reference・・・Yoshimine-dera Temple website

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

★Taho-to (Taho Pagoda, 多宝塔, Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt in 1621 by Kenko-hoshi. Taho-to is the oldest building in Yoshimine-dera Temple. Taho-to houses the main statue of Aizome Myoo.
★Amidado (阿弥陀堂) was built in 1673, and was renovated in 1693 by Keishoin, the birth mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th shogun of the Edo shogunate. Amidado houses the statue of Hokan Amida Nyorai. Amidado also houses the ancestral tablets of the Tokugawa family.
★Kannondo (観音堂) was built by Keishoin in 1692. Kannondo is the hondo (main hall) of Yoshimine-dera Temple. Kannondo houses the main statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon), carved by Ninko-hoshi, and the statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon), created by Gensan-shonin. The main statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon) is the 20th temple of the Saigoku Sanjusansho (33 temples in the Saigoku region).
善峯寺見どころ (Yoshimine-dera Temple Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Monju Jiho Shunki Kikakuten (Spring Exhibition, 文殊寺宝館春期企画展) is held from April to June. At Monju Jiho Shunki Kikakuten, some of the about 300 cultural artifacts owned by Yoshimine-dera Temple, such as Buddha statues, paintings, calligraphy, dyeing and weaving, and pottery, will be exhibited to the public at the Treasure Museum.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is from early April to mid-April. About 500 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, weeping cherry, higan-zakura, yama-zakura, and botan-zakura, are planted here, and the 300-year-old weeping cherry tree, said to have been planted by Keishoin, the mother of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, the 5th shogun of the Edo shogunate, is said to be beautiful.
★The best time to see azaleas (ツツジ) and satsuki azaleas (サツキ) is in early May for Hirado and Kirishima azaleas and in early June for satsuki azaleas. Hirado azaleas, Kirishima azaleas, and Satsuki azaleas are planted on the vast grounds, which cover an area of about 30,000 tsubo, and it is said that the scenery of azaleas, satsuki, and the vast grounds is beautiful. The Hirado Azalea spreads near the approach to Yakushido and is filled with pink and white flowers.
★The best time to see hydrangeas (アジサイ) is from mid-June to early July. About 10,000 hydrangeas, including Seiyo-ajisai, Gaku-ajisai, and Yama-ajisai, are planted in the Hakusan-zakura Ajisai-en (garden), which covers an area of about 3,000 tsubo, and the entire slope of the garden is decorated with beautiful colors. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto from the hill overlooking the city through the hydrangeas.
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to late November. Maple trees, cherry trees, and other trees are distributed on the vast grounds, and the scenery of the autumn leaves, the garden, San-mon Gate, Amidado, Shakado and Taho-to is said to be beautiful.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

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

Tel: +81-75-331-0020

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Yoshimine-dera Temple is to walk to Jurin-ji Temple (Narihira-dera Temple). You can enjoy the natural beauty of Nishiyama. Since Yoshimine-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 Yoshimine-dera Temple, be sure to check the latest information.

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  3. 嵐山
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