Shogunzuka-Seiryuden Temple

Shogunzuka Seiryuden is a grand goma (fire ritual) hall built within a detached precinct of Shoren-in Monzeki (Tendai Buddhism), located in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. The building was originally constructed in 1915 (Taisho 2) in front of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine as the “Dai-Nippon Butokukai Kyoto Branch Butokuden,” commemorating Emperor Taisho’s enthronement, and was relocated and reconstructed at its current site in 2014 (Heisei 26). “Shogunzuka” refers to a mound said to have been created when Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heian-kyo: a mound about 20 meters in diameter and 2 meters high where a general’s statue was buried to protect the capital. Access is typically by taxi from JR Kyoto Station (about 20 minutes). The inner sanctuary enshrines one of Japan’s Three Great Fudō paintings: the National Treasure “Ao Fudō Myōō with Two Attendants” (commonly called “Ao Fudō”), dating to the mid-Heian period and regarded as a masterpiece of Japanese Buddhist painting. A large viewing stage was newly built in conjunction with the relocation; it is about 4.6 times the size of Kiyomizu-dera’s famous stage. From this platform you can see across Kyoto City, and on clear days even the skyline of Osaka. The expansive gardens are well known for cherry blossoms and autumn foliage.