Kyoto? category ?

Myomanji Temple is the head temple of the Kenpon Hokke sect. This is the place associated with the legend of Kiyohime, who fell in love with the monk Anchin but was rejected, and then transformed into a giant snake to pursue him. The garden known as the "Snow Garden" is also famous.

This is a prestigious temple where the head priest has historically been a descendant of the Imperial family. There are two gardens on the temple grounds. In the seasons of fresh green leaves and autumn foliage, the way the colors of the leaves are reflected on the floorboards is exceptionally beautiful.

This temple was devastated during the Onin War (1467-1477) and was rebuilt in its current location in 1662. It is famous for its Japanese gardens with ponds for viewing. The green maple leaves in early summer and the vibrant autumn foliage are particularly spectacular.

This is a shrine dedicated to Prince Sawara. After his tragic death, an epidemic broke out in Kyoto, and it was said to be his curse. Therefore, this shrine was established to appease his spirit. In Japan, it is believed that by respectfully enshrining fearsome vengeful spirits, one can receive their great power.

This shrine is known for its blessings in curing children's illnesses and stopping night crying. This deity uses doves as messengers. Even today, many goods related to doves are sold. There is a museum that displays a large number of votive tablets discovered on the grounds of a shrine.

It is a subsidiary shrine of Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, but its founding date is older than that. The enshrined deity is Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, who is believed to grant blessings for improvement in performing arts. On the east side of the shrine grounds is a pond, famous for its Japanese irises that bloom around mid-May.

It is a sub-temple of Shokokuji Temple, located on the west side of the temple grounds. The author Tsutomu Mizukami trained there from the age of 9 to 13, and it is known that he wrote the novel "The Temple of the Wild Geese" based on that experience.

Shokokuji Temple was founded at the end of the 14th century by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. This is the head temple of the Shokokuji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. The Dharma hall, built in 1605, is the oldest example of a Dharma hall architecture in Japan.

It is one of the eight main temples of the Nichiren sect in Kyoto. Many of the buildings, including the main hall, the founder's hall, and the pagoda, are designated as tangible cultural properties of Kyoto Prefecture. The garden created by Honami Koetsu and the Nirvana painting by Hasegawa Tohaku are also famous.

Hokyoji Temple is a nunnery with ties to the Imperial family, where the head priest has traditionally been a princess. Because the Emperor presented dolls to the temple seasonally, this temple houses a large collection of dolls. These are open to the public every spring and autumn.