As the hot summer finally comes to an end and autumn deepens, one thing I look forward to is the beautiful scenery of autumn leaves. There are many famous places all over the country, but perhaps the most impressive are the autumn leaves seen at old temples in Kyoto. The beautiful scenery where a temple with a long history and rich nature harmonize perfectly gives us great peace of mind and excitement.
What we would like to introduce here is an old temple in the Minamiyamashiro area in the southern part of Kyoto that still retains its Satoyama village, and is popular for its beautiful autumn leaves. Why not take a leisurely stroll through the vivid autumn leaves and discover Kyoto's precious cultural properties and enjoy an extraordinary time?

Kaijuzanji Temple
A five-storied pagoda with autumn leaves that you can reach by climbing a steep mountain path

The autumn leaves at Kaijuzanji Temple are breathtakingly beautiful. The autumn leaves of the maple trees around the five-storied pagoda and the ginkgo trees behind the main hall are especially special. Furthermore, the view of the autumn leaves of the mountains seen from the main temple is impressive. Shige Omura, an essayist known for popularizing the word ``obanzai'' to refer to Kyoto side dishes, is one of those who loved this temple. ``The plum blossoms bloom. The cherry blossoms bloom. After that, the satsuki blooms, and the refreshing blue maples of that time turn red like a curtain of brocade in autumn. After all, this is the Kannon Pure Land. "Let's move to the ground," he writes in the essay collection "Quiet Kyoto."
It's about an hour's drive from Kyoto city. It is located halfway up Mt. Mikami (Mt. Kaizumi) overlooking Mikanohara, where Kyoningu Shrine, the capital city of the Nara period, was located. It's fun to look back on the old days while looking at the autumn leaves and looking at Kyoningu Shrine and Heijo-kyo below. It is said to have been built in 1 by the priest Ryoben on the orders of Emperor Shomu, and the five-storied pagoda, a national treasure, the eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva statue, and Monju-do Hall, an important cultural property, are must-sees.

Kaijuzanji Temple

20 Reiheumijuyama, Kamo-cho, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto Prefecture
Visiting hours: 9:16-30:XNUMX
Admission fee: 500 yen for viewing inside the main hall (hon-respected XNUMX-faced Kannon Bodhisattva, etc.) (includes entrance fee)

*Entrance fee is 1 yen per person for hiking, photography, walking, etc.
*Additional fee applies during special exhibition period

Joruriji Temple
Enjoy autumn in Kyoto in a garden inspired by the Pure Land of Paradise

Visiting Joruriji Temple during the autumn foliage season offers a valuable experience that will make you forget about the real world. The main hall and three-storied pagoda surrounded by bright red maple trees are a sight to behold. On a clear, windless day, the autumn leaves are reflected on the surface of Takara Pond, making it look like a paradise dreamed of by Heian aristocrats. In fact, the garden, with a treasure pond in the center, the main hall (national treasure) to the west, and the three-storied pagoda (national treasure) to the east, was created in the image of a Pure Land paradise. It is said that over 30 such temples existed during the Heian period, but all of them have been lost and only Joruriji Temple remains today. This place has been designated as a special scenic spot by the country. Nine seated statues of Amida Nyorai (national treasures) are enshrined in the main hall, and although there are reports that many of these nine seated statues of Amida Nyorai were also created during the Heian period, these are the only remaining works from the Heian period.
Joruriji Temple boasts cultural assets that rival the famous temples in central Kyoto and Nara. It is said to have been built in 1047, and the name of the temple comes from the Oriental Pure Land of Yakushi Nyorai, ``Touhou Joruri Sekai,'' which is enshrined in the three-story pagoda.

Joruriji Temple
40 Nishikofudaba, Kizugawa Kamo-cho, Kyoto Prefecture
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
※本堂拝観受付は16:30まで（12月〜2月は10:00〜16:00、本堂拝観受付は15:30まで）
Admission fee: 400 yen (junior high school students and above)

Ganfune Temple
Maples decorate an old Heian temple with a mystical atmosphere

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Iwafune Temple stands quietly and is a ``flower temple'' where various flowers bloom throughout the year. It is famous for its hydrangeas, but it is also especially beautiful during the fall foliage season, as it is home to Yamamomiji and Japanese maple. The view of the 18-meter-tall three-storied pagoda (an important cultural property) that stands on a remote hill surrounded by autumn-foliage and evergreen trees is particularly spectacular, and it is said that when viewed from the Sanmon gate, which is shaped like a picture frame, it looks like a painting. The area around the granite thirteen-story stone pagoda (an important cultural property) that stands on the left side of Aji Pond is another spot for autumn leaves.
According to the ``Iwafune Temple Engi,'' compiled in 1632, the temple was founded in 729 when Emperor Shomu commissioned Gyoki, the priest, to build the Amida Hall. Important cultural properties such as the seated statue of Amitabha Tathagata and the statue of Fugen Bosatsu on horseback, which are thought to have been produced in the early Fujiwara period, are must-sees. There is a path (a 2.5 km half-day course) that takes you from Gansen-dera Temple to Joruri-ji Temple to visit the Tono Stone Buddha, so you can enjoy walking while also viewing the autumn leaves.

Ganfune Temple
43 Iwafune Kaminomon, Kizugawa Kamo-cho, Kyoto City
拝観時間：3月〜11月8:30〜17:00（受付は16:45まで）12月〜2月9:00〜16:00（受付は15：45まで）
Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 400 yen for junior high and high school students, 200 yen for elementary school students

Shuonan Ikkyuji Temple
Ikkyu's temple where crimson maples welcome you

Shuonan Ikkyuji is a temple associated with Ikkyu, who is known not only in Japan but also around the world through anime. This temple, located in Kyotanabe City, Kyoto Prefecture, is also a little-known spot for viewing autumn leaves. In season, when you pass through the main gate and look up at the approach, you'll see a tunnel of maple trees dyed deep red. Furthermore, if you turn right at the end of the approach, you will be greeted by a spectacular tunnel of maple trees. The scattered maple leaves that cover the carpet of moss that can be seen in late autumn are also full of elegance.

Ikkyu Sojun, also known as Ikkyu-san, came to live in this temple in 1456 (2nd year of Yassho), in the middle of the Muromachi period. Even after becoming the chief priest of Daitokuji Temple at the age of 81, he continued to commute to the temple, where he spent the next 88 years until his death at the age of 25. You can see his residence ``Toraokaan'', his grave ``Sojun-no-byo'', and his portrait ``Ikkyu Zenji Image'' (Important Cultural Property). This temple is also famous for its beautiful dry landscape garden. Enjoying the different scenery of autumn leaves in the south, east, and north gardens from the hojo will fill your soul.

Shuonan Ikkyuji Temple
102 Taki Satonouchi, Kyotanabe City, Kyoto Prefecture
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
*Treasure Hall is open from 9:30 to 16:30.
Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 400 yen for high school students, 300 yen for junior high school students, 200 yen for elementary school students,