ENRYAKU-JI

Enryaku-ji Temple is located on Mt. Hiei, on the border between Kyoto Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture. The mountain, 848 meters high, overlooks the waters of Lake Biwa to the east and Kyoto City to the west. On a clear day, the view of Japan's largest lake is sensational. A sacred place par excellence, Mount Hiei was chosen in 788 by the great Buddhist monk Saichō, founder of the Tendai branch of Buddhism in Japan, to establish the Enryaku-ji temple. When Kyoto became the capital in 794, the temple attracted the attention of the imperial court because it was seen as a barrier to malignant forces. Emperor Kanmu thus designated it as the official protective temple of Kyoto. Having become the seat of the Tendai School, the temple would have welcomed, at its peak, more than 3,000 monks. The most eminent then founded their own schools. This temple is thus considered to be the cradle of Japanese Buddhism. Its geographical location, the beauty of the surrounding nature, its history and influence are fascinating. It is one of the most spiritual centers of Japanese culture. It has been designed as a training center for different practices of Buddhism such as meditation, esoteric rituals and devotion. In 1994, the temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Three sites make up its vast expanse: To-do, Sai-to and Yokawa. To-do is the location chosen by Saichō to establish the original temple. This complex of about 150 buildings includes the Konpon Chu-do, the most important temple on Mt. Hiei. Rebuilt in 1642, it has since become a National Treasure. A fascinating and disturbing detail, the flame at the foot of the altar, called "eternal light", has been burning continuously for 1200 years now. Note that the entire building is now covered for renovation work, scheduled until 2026. It is still possible to enter and the atmosphere is still very mysterious. Do not hesitate to take the temporary stairs to discover the colossal work in progress on the roof and the structure. The Sai-to sector was founded by Encho, the second master of the Tendai sect. The Shaka-do and Ninai-do are the main buildings. As for the Yokowa sector, it was established by En-nin, the third master of the Tendai sect. Don't miss the Yokawa Chu-do and Konpon Nyoho-to pagoda. The four seasons at Mt. Hiei are all worth enjoying. The sakuras bloom in the spring, the bright moss covers the ground in summer, the trees turn orange in autumn and the snow appears in winter, making the atmosphere silent.

Visitors have two options forgetting there. From Kyoto, take the Eizan line to Yase Hieizanguchi Station, then take the Eizan funicular (¥550) and the Eizan cable car (¥350). Transfers are every 15-20 minutes. From Sakamoto-hieizanguchi and Hieizan Sakamoto stations, take the Sakamoto funicular (adult ¥870, child ¥440). This funicular is the longest funicular in Japan at 2025 meters. The trip is very pleasant and the terminus is a few hundred meters from Konpon Chu-do, the most convenient route. Once on the site, you can walk between the areas (count a little more than two hours) or get on one of the shuttles.