Renge-ji
posted September 27, 2003
Renge-ji is not on most tourist maps, but it’s one of my favorite places in Kyoto. Founded in 1662 at the base of Hiei-zan, Renge-ji is a temple of the Tendai sect, headquartered at Enryaku-ji at the top of the mountain.
Even in tourist season, this place is quiet. For an extra 300 Yen, you can have matcha service on the rear pavilion (not pictured) by a nice little brook.
It looks really pretty–how do you get there? My wife and I bought a tourist map of Kyoto which has about 100 temples listed on it (a fraction of the total, I know) but unfortunately it doesn’t include Renge-ji.
Eizan train from Demachiyanagi toward Hiei-zan, get off at Miyake-Hachiman, there is a road running alongside the Takano River toward Oahra; cross the river and the road, do not look back, follow the road a few hundred meters north toward the mountain. There is small unpaved parking area on the left, and a path leading up to the gate and one of the finest gardens in kyoto. The autumn colors here are gorgeous, but anytime is good.
We’re going in the fall, so we’ll definitely go there–thanks for the directions and for all the great pictures and descriptions on your site.
Nils,
The first photo strikes me as an excelent place for quiet reflection.
During the not so busy days, I used to bus up to Ryoan-ji. It was wonderful when silence descended at the garden.
Do you find Renge-ji to be regularly peaceful?
Cheers,
Logan
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