Shorenin Temple

What to know

Shorenin (青蓮院, Shōrenin) is a Tendai Buddhist temple at the foot of Kyoto's Higashiyama mountains. As a monzeki temple, its head priests were traditionally members of the imperial family. A winding route guides visitors through the temple's buildings and gardens.

Shorenin's imperial ties date back to its founding in the 12th century. Emperor Toba, a follower of the Tendai sect (head temple Enryakuji in northeastern Kyoto), had his son study under Enryakuji's head priest and built Shorenin as a city residence for them. Over time, it evolved into a temple. In the 18th century, a fire forced an empress to use Shorenin as temporary living quarters, making it an imperial residence once again.

Visitors first enter the Kachoden drawing room, adorned with portraits and paintings on sliding doors (fusuma). The room opens to a pond garden, viewable from tatami mats. Wooden walkways connect to other buildings, including the largest, the Shinden, and the main hall, Shijokodo Hall.

Shijokodo Hall houses rarely displayed main objects of worship: a mandala (a diagram of Buddhist deities and the universe) with a small jade statue in front, and a drawing of Fudo Myoo, a flame-enshrouded wisdom deity holding a sword. A replica of the Fudo Myoo drawing is at the Seiryuden branch temple atop Shogunzuka Mound behind Shorenin.

Beyond admiring gardens from buildings, visitors can stroll garden paths for a closer look. From Kachoden, a trail leads up a small hill past a tea house, a small shrine, and a bamboo grove. In front of Shinden lies a moss garden surrounded by massive camphor trees. In spring and fall, the temple opens for special evening illuminations.

Shorenin is located beside Chionin Temple, north of Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto's Higashiyama District.