Manshuin Temple

Manshu-in is a Tendai Buddhist temple located in Kita Ward, Kyoto, and is renowned as a maple leaf viewing spot in autumn. Originally founded on Mount Hiei and known as Tōbi-bō, it was relocated several times before Prince Ryōshō, the Tendai sect’s head priest, moved it to its current location in 1656. Prince Ryōshō was the son of Prince Hachijō Toshihito, the creator of Katsura Imperial Villa, and both were refined connoisseurs of tea, flower arrangement, and calligraphy. The main reception hall, built in the sukiya architectural style, features design elements inspired by Katsura Imperial Villa, such as fan-shaped and gourd-shaped metal fittings. In front of the hall lies a dry landscape garden designed by Kobori Enshū. In May, Kirishima azaleas bloom vividly, while autumn brings spectacular red maple foliage. Manshu-in is about a 20-minute walk from Shugakuin Station on the Eizan Railway and approximately the same distance from Shisendō.