Yoshimine Temple

Yoshimine-dera is the head temple of the Yoshimine Kannon sect in western Kyoto and the 20th temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. It was founded in 1030 (Chogen 3) by the Tendai monk Gensan and reached its peak in the late Heian period; in the medieval era, even Tendai chief abbots such as Jien and imperial princes entered the temple, leading it to be called “Nishiyama-no-miya.” Many buildings were lost to fires during the Onin War; most of the current structures were donated by Keishoin—mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi—who was from the Oharano area. After climbing the steep, switchback “Achisaka” path, visitors reach the Niomon gate. The precinct includes the main hall with the principal Thousand-Armed Kannon, plus the sutra hall, bell tower, tahoto pagoda, and further halls on the mountainside such as Shaka-do and Yakushi-do. A standout is the Go-yomatsu pine whose branches spread low and long on both sides of the tahoto; its dragon-like form gives it the name “Yuryu-matsu” (Playing-Dragon Pine). Seasonal highlights include weeping cherry blossoms in spring, satsuki azaleas and hydrangeas in summer, mountainwide foliage in autumn, and winter snows accented by nandina berries. It lies in the mountains near the Osaka border; from JR Mukomachi Station, take Hankyu Bus route 66 (about 30 minutes; runs about once per hour) to the terminal Yoshimine-dera stop, then walk about 8 minutes.