Kuramadera Temple, famous for Minamoto no Yoshitsune, is a temple where visitors can enjoy hiking while experiencing history.
The hiking course from the Kuramadera gate, up to the main hall, and back to Kibune takes about two hours.
It is just the right distance for adults to get some exercise. Children in kindergarten can just barely make it.
Elementary school children are suitable for the lower grades. There are quite a few ups and downs, though.
To get there, take the Eizan Electric Railway from Demachiyanagi Station, the first stop on the line, to Kurama Station, the last stop, which takes 30 minutes.
It is easy to get there if you keep riding the train (do not take the train bound for Yase).
Passing through the city of Kyoto and seeing people’s houses in the mountains, we arrived at “Kurama” station.
The relaxing atmosphere of the Eizan Electric Railway is also nice.
The station building is also nice and retro. Eizan Electric Railway is a good line that attracts railroad fans.
In front of Kurama Station, there is a statue of the mascot character? A statue of a tengu, the mascot character of the Kurama area, is in front of Kurama Station.
I wonder if he really existed.
A little bit of the town in front of the gate. The best thing to buy here is tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and sugar) made from the buds of trees. It is a specialty.
For more information, please refer to this blog post.
The original “Ki no Mei tsukudani” souvenir you should buy at Kuramadera Temple in Kyoto.
京都・鞍馬寺で買うべきお土産、元祖【木の芽煮】
The approach to Kuramadera Temple. The long stone steps are cool. Considering the long uphill climb ahead, this is just the beginning!
In 770, a high disciple of monk Ganjin ascended Mt. Kurama and was saved by Bishamonten when he was attacked by a demon,
Kuramadera Temple was built in 770 when he was saved by Bishamonten when he was attacked by demons.
Kuramadera is a mysterious temple that is already legendary from its beginning.
This is an imposing gate. It makes me want to take pictures.
By the way, for those who are not fit, don’t worry, you can take the ropeway.
Kuramadera Temple is the head temple of Kurama Kokyo, which means it is pretty much a one-and-only sect.
The crest is also very unique. It is clearly a fan of a tengu. This is easy to understand.
Free walking sticks are available for rent just inside the gate, if you need one.
If you decide you don’t need a walking stick in the middle of your hike, there are several walking stick return boxes so you can easily pick one up.
Now, the hiking on Kurama-yama has begun. We climbed the stone steps one by one, chewing each step as we went.
In case you’re wondering, here’s what this whole thing looks like. You can look at this to get a rough idea of the distance.
There is also a part where the trail splits into a slope course and a stone staircase course.
The slope course is more like hiking.
The stone steps are more tiring.
The word “demon king” sounds like a bad god, but here it is called “Goho Maou-son,” which sounds like a good god.
I don’t have much of an explanation for that.
The slope of the hill is like this. I wonder, is it about 20 degrees?
As a climber, I feel that it is a good slope.
This is Yuki Shrine. This is the first shrine after starting the climb.
Rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori. When you climb up from below, the feeling of looking up is powerful.
This is OSUGI. Anyway, it is huge. It is worth seeing.
The main shrine of Yuki Shrine. It takes about 20 minutes to get here. It is a good idea to take a break here.
From here on, it is a ninety-nine-fold path.
Tengu-mikuji is also fun. There is a fortune inside a tengu key chain.
Even after seeing the fortune, you will want to keep it as a good-luck charm.
This is the place where Sei Shonagon wrote in “The Pillow Book”, “Tsuzuraori no Michi (the ninety-nine fold road of Kurama), which is both near and far”.
We enter the stone staircase area again. I start to catch my breath, but the clean air I breathe in feels good.
The stone steps and vermilion lanterns have been cleaned up and I realize that the main hall is getting closer. Whew. One more breath.
I arrived at the main hall. It took me about 30 minutes to get here. A good workout.
The view is spectacular. The mountains and eye level are the same.
The center of the stone floor in the plaza in front of the main shrine is a power spot.
So everyone lines up to worship.
You should worship with your body in an upright position, as if you were collecting Genki-dama, the energy ball from the Dragon Ball,
It is recommended that you take a big breath and worship with the image of gathering the ki in the air.
Around the main shrine, in addition to the treasure hall and other buildings, Yosano Akiko’s study “Tohaku-tei” has been relocated.
It seems to have various connections with the couple’s overnight stay at Kuramadera Temple.
The poem she wrote during their one-night stay at Kuramadera is as follows,
Somehow I feel like being with you again, on an evening moonlit night in Hanano,” said Akiko.
Her husband, Kan’s,
I see the stone of Shanao’s comparing heights as Mt. Kurama, and my heart is still waiting for tomorrow.
Various people have visited and composed poems.
After taking a break at the main shrine, oh my! It goes up further.
From the point of view of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, you have to go further to see the places related to him.
Of course, it would be quicker to go back the same way from the main shrine, but we would like to enjoy Kurama to the fullest.
But this is where the hiking begins. The path has clearly turned into a mountain path!
Kurama’s famous “tree root road.
The sandstone was hardened by magma and the tree roots could not grow underground, hence the name.
It is said to be the place where Ushiwakamaru practiced military arts.
Osugi Daigongen. According to Kuramadera’s website, the power of Goho Maou-son is especially great in this area.
This is Yoshitsunedo.
This area is said to be the “Priest’s Valley” where Yoshitsune learned the art of war from a tengu.
The website of Kuramadera Temple explains that there are tengu in this area.
It’s already a mixture of reality and fantasy, I don’t know what it is lol.
On the way down, we see the “Maou-den” and other places. Now, let’s go down.
The downhill is steeper than the uphill. It is very difficult for people coming up from Kibune.
It took about 30 minutes to get there. Finally, I arrived at Kibune.
Kibune is also beautiful.
If you walk to Kibune station, it will take more than 30 minutes from here.
I recommend you to take a bus to Kibune station.
But I came to the station on foot.
Whew – I’m tired. But I feel pleasantly tired.
I wonder if the train is coming yet.
Return trip by Eizan Electric Railway. Thank you for your hard work!
Kuramadera Temple
1074 Kurama Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 601-1111
Kurama Kokyo Headquarters Kuramadera Temple
Phone (075)741-2003
