Japanese Emperor and Empress Visit Manshuin Temple Kyoto

曼殊院 紅葉に感嘆　両陛下入洛

The Japanese Royal Couple spent a day in Kyoto recently.

The Emperor Hirohito and Empress boarded a special Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station and rode to Kyoto.

There they were taken to Manshuin Temple, which is in the northeast of the city not far from Shugakuin Villa, which is pictured above.

The royal couple were in Kyoto on December 3 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the Meiji Emperor, the last emperor to be born in Kyoto and the grandfather of Hirohito.

After an afternoon of looking at leaves, they headed to the Kyoto Imperial Palace (below) where they enjoyed tea before heading back to Tokyo.


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Start date: 04/12/2012 14:00 GMT
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Cycling Enkoji Temple Kyoto

自転車で圓光寺へ

Tucked in an almost rural part of northeastern Kyoto is Enkoji Temple.

It sits close to the foot of Mt. Hiei, Kyoto's highest mountain, and is a short ride from either Manshuin or Shisendo.

Tokugawa Ieyasu founded Enkoji in 1601 in Fushimi, in the southern of Kyoto. The original mission of the temple was to promote learning and scholarship. As a result, monks and non-monks were allowed as to enroll as students.

In 1667, the temple was moved to the current location.

Within the temple, there is a small gallery-like building in which images and other items are displayed. Within this is a six-panel byobu, or screen, that was painted Okyo Maruyama.

Inside the main hall of the temple are screens and other items.

The garden is also beautiful.

Directions

It is a short ride up from Ichijoji Station on the Eiden Railway. Cross Shirakawa Dori (street) and continue straight up the slope. On your right there is the gate of Shisendo, the lovely hermitage. Enkoji is down the narrow street you rode past just before getting to Shisendo. It is down this street on the right.

Enkoji Temple

Open 9 - 4:30 pm. 400 yen for adults.
075 781 8025


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