Kurama Mountain

Mount Kurama is a 584-meter mountain in northern Kyoto City, located between the Kurama River to the east and the Kibune River to the west. Since before recorded history, it has been revered as a sacred mountain for beliefs such as ancient Shinto, Onmyodo, and Shugendo. According to the "Kuramadera Engi," in 770 (the first year of Hoki), the monk Ganjou, a senior disciple of Jianzhen (Ganjin), climbed Mount Kurama guided by a dream and a white horse. When he was attacked by a demon woman, he was saved by Bishamonten, and he built a hermitage to enshrine Bishamonten—said to mark the beginning of Mount Kurama worship. After the capital moved to Heian-kyo, Kurama-dera Temple was founded as a protector of the city’s northern side, and the mountain appears in classical court literature such as The Tale of Genji and The Sarashina Diary. Over time, warrior monks gained power, and the legend of Ushiwakamaru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune) training on Mount Kurama and receiving martial teachings from tengu is especially famous. Arriving at Kurama Station on the Eizan Railway, you will see the Kurama Kaido road curving uphill, with Kurama-dera’s Niomon Gate immediately to the left. The cable car costs 200 yen one way and takes you near the Tahoto Pagoda. The autumn foliage is spectacular, drawing many visitors.