Shorenin Temple,  Aomori, Japan

Shorenin Temple, Aomori, Japan 

Shorenin is a temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism located at the foot of Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountains. It is one of the city’s monzeki temples, which are temples whose head priests were traditionally members of the imperial family. A winding route takes visitors through Shorenin’s various temple buildings and gardens.

Shorenin’s close relationship with the Japanese imperial family dates back to the temple’s founding in the 12th century. The Emperor Toba was a follower of the Tendai sect, whose head temple is Enryakuji Temple in the mountains of northeastern Kyoto. The emperor had his son study under Enryakuji’s head priest, and built Shorenin as a residence for the two of them in the city. Over time the residence evolved into a genuine temple. As an interesting turn of fate, Shorenin once again served as a residence during the 18th century when a fire forced an empress to use the temple as her temporary living quarters.

Epic Japan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound