The Enrian Temple stands out for the beauty of its autumn foliage. The place is known only to a few and is definitely a hidden gem in Kyoto.
The Enrian Temple is located on the road from Seiryoji Temple to Nison-in Temple in Sagano. It is not far from Tenryuji Temple, the head temple of the Rinzai sect.
This temple does not face the road at all and is a secluded place in the woods. It is not open to the public except during the fall foliage season, and few people visit. If there is no sign indicating that the temple is open to the public, you will pass by it without noticing it at all.
The place where the Enrian Temple is was the site of the Ogura Villa of Fujiwara no Teika. Teika composed the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poems) here. However, it felled into disrepair. Later, the court noble Reizei family, the descendants of Teika, repaired the temple in the mid-Edo period. Emperor Reigen named the villa “Enrian”, meaning a disenchanted hermitage.
It declined again, but was restored in the Meiji period. In addition to the shoin, there is a tea ceremony room, Shiguretei, and a mound of Teika.
Kyoto City Official Travel Guide
Nearby spots from Enrian Temple
Seiryoji Temple‘s garden is also very beautiful. The standing statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (you can see it only during special openings) in the main hall of Seiryoji is a national treasure and came from India.
Houkyouin Temple is also popular during the autumn foliage season. Why not visit Seiryoji Temple, then Houkyoin Temple, then Enrian Temple, and so on?
Nison-in Temple is only about five-minute walk from the Enrian Temple. In this area of Sagano, there are many beautiful temples such as Jojakkoji Temple, Gioji Temple and Takiguchidera Temple.
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[…] If you have the opportunity in the fall, I highly recommend visiting nearby Enrian Temple. […]