Eikan-dō Temple

Eikan-dō Temple is identified by a two-story Tahōtō pagoda that rises above the hillside tree canopy, offering views across the Higashiyama mountains and Kyoto city. Formally known as Zenrin-ji, the temple was founded in eight fifty-three by Shinshō, a disciple of the monk Kūkai. While it began as a site for Shingon Buddhism, it later became the head temple for the Seizan branch of the Jōdo sect. Thousands of maple trees cover the grounds, leading many to nickname it the Temple of Autumn Leaves.