It is a little difficult to get to this temple, but the extra effort is well worth it. As you enter the mountain during the autumn season you can see the splendid colours of the maple trees. Entering the temple through the massive Sun-mon gate a few steps up and you are in front of the Kannon-do or main hall. From there you can walk through the various paths and see the Tsurigane-do or bell tower, the Goma-do, these are flanked by the famous Yuryu no Matsu pine tree or the “Pine of the Playing Dragon”. As you go up the slope of the mountain you can take a rest at the Keisho Den pavilion and enjoy the scenery below. Further up you come across a stone lantern called Kenka Hi, there is a poem written by Kenshoin inscribed on a stone slab. A little more up is a 13 store stone pagoda before you reach the Shoren no Taki (waterfall), the stones along the pond are brought here from Shorenin tempe in Kyoto. Now its time to take a break and enjoy the Rengejuin no Miwa (garden). There are some koi swimming in the pond. Koi or more specifically nishikigoi, are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens and they become quite large. By now you have almost reached the top and the path is a small and leads through the pine trees. Some majestic white lion statues are protecting this area which is a grave site called “Shorenin no Miya gobyo (graves). It is the resting place for the Shorenin no Miya family who are connected to the Chrysanthemum throne. This is the last point on your journey up Mount Nishiyama and now its time to descent and take a last look at all the marvellous buildings and scenery. If you like to take pictures and enjoy the view it will probably take you about 1 1/2 hours. There is another smaller temple a bit further down the mountain that is worthwhile to visit. Its much smaller and boasts of a rich history, the temple is called Jurinji and it's the residence of the famous Poet Narihira!
Here a little more history and facts about this temple: Yoshimine dera (吉峰寺) is a temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism located in Kyoto's western mountain known as Nishiyama. Similar to Kiyomizudera on the opposite side of town, Yoshimine dera is built along the mountain side and looks out onto Kyoto. The temple grounds are spacious and there are many buildings distributed up the mountain side. It is also known for Keishoin, mother of the 5th Tokugawa shogun (Tokugawa Tsunayoshi), who rebuilt the temple which had been destroyed in the Onin Wars of 1467-77. The temple is sometimes called the “The Pine Tree Temple on Mt. Nishiyama”or “ Matsu no dera”.
A priest from Enryakuji, named Gensan, established Yoshiminedera as a personal retreat in 1029. In 1467 the temple was destroyed in the Onin War but was rebuilt in 1621. The temple's main objects of worship are a Kannon statue carved by Gensan and a Kannon statue given to the temple by Emperor Gosuzaku in 1042.
Yoshimine dera's main building, the Hondo, is located just after the Sanmon, the temple's main entrance gate. Beside the Hondo stands a treasure house, where some of the temple's artifacts are put on display. Paths extend up the mountainside from these buildings, and numerous smaller temple structures are located along the way. The views onto the city below are quite impressive.
The Pine Tree of “Yuryu” or “Yuryu no Matsu” is a unique 600 year old pine tree that is only 2 meters tall but 54 meters long. The pine tree was named “Yuryu” or “Pine of the Playing Dragon” in 1857 by Hanayama Ie-atsu, formerly the Minister of the Right. The pine tree standing before the two-storied pagoda is a natural monument, and is said to resemble a dragon swimming through the waves. Yoshimine-dera is famous also for the medicated baths opened twice a year.The temple area is particularly beautiful in combination with the changing colours of the fall season.
Here a little more about Keishôin. She was a member of the Ôoku of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, and mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. She was born in 1628, the second daughter of a Nishijin grocer. In her childhood, she was called Tama. She was later adopted by Honjô Munetoshi, steward for Kanpaku Nijô Mitsuhira. Traveling to Edo as the result of some interaction or connection with O-Ume, daughter of Rokujô Yûjun (a member of the Ôoku), Tama entered the Ôoku herself as a concubine of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, and eventually gave birth to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who would grow up to be Shogun himself. After Tsunayoshi became Shogun in 1680, she took up residence in the san-no-maru (third bailey) of Edo castle, and came to be known as San-no-maru-dono as a result.
