Day 10 – Eikando Zenrin-Ji
Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji (永観堂禅林寺) is the head temple for the Seizan branch of Japan’s Jōdo shū (Pure Land) Buddhist sect, located in the town of Eikandō, in Kyoto’s Sakyō-ku. It was founded by Shinshō, a pupil of Kūkai, and is famous for its fall foliage and for its prominence in the past as a center of learning.
Via Wikipedia.
This was one of the most engaging places I visited in Kyoto. The site is a vast compound with a tea house, temple, pagoda, gardens, etc. so you get to see an amazing snapshot of each of the ancient building typologies all in one place. The fact that the integrity of the site was so well preserved as a complete compound also affords a glimpse into what a medieval clan compound would have been like. It was just lovely.
