Shorenin Temple

Shoren-in Monzeki is a Tendai Buddhist monzeki temple located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. It is said to have originated from one of the monks’ residences built by Dengyo Daishi Saicho when he founded Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, known at the time as Seirenbo. As a monzeki temple closely associated with the Imperial family, successive generations of imperial princes served as head priests. In 1788, after the Imperial Palace was destroyed by fire, Shoren-in served as a temporary imperial residence for the retired Emperor Sakuramachi and became known as Awata Gosho. The refined buildings have an elegant atmosphere more reminiscent of an aristocratic residence than a traditional temple. Shoren-in is especially known for its two gardens. The main garden, created by Soami in the Muromachi period, is a strolling pond garden that incorporates Mount Awata as borrowed scenery. The second is the Kirishima Garden, designed by Kobori Enshu in the Edo period, where vivid crimson Kirishima azaleas bloom beautifully in May. It is about a 5-minute walk from Higashiyama Subway Station, and the area south of the temple leads to Chion-in, Maruyama Park, Kodaiji Temple, and eventually Kiyomizu-dera. In front of the north gate stands a massive camphor tree said to have survived the Onin War.