What other travelers are saying about Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
There was a garden space but some unique gateways and structures there made the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple special. There was a mount, and a pagoda as well. I figured that the short stone pillars served some ceremonial purposes in death. The red foliage there was particularly vibrant. There was no eeriness amidst the bright sunshine of the day.
During the Heian period, the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple had an eerie past as a site of open burial for those who had no family or friends who could oversee a proper rite for their passing. At some point in history, the remains were buried in a simple manner. The stone pillars memorialized the spirited, as grave markers.
The temple began when the famous monk Kukai (774-835 A.D.), who was the founder of Shingon Buddhism, established a temple in this area about 1,200 years ago. Even at the temple’s inception, it stood for the remembrance of the dead as the site of prayers for the departed.
Be sure to visit the bamboo grove at the back of the temple compound. It is much easier to take photographs there than at the bamboo grove of arashiyama.
As others have mentioned, skip the crowds and head here instead for a bamboo forest experience (next to the temple )We came close to closing time and were essentially alone. It was a really cool to sit in the quiet and listen to the wind comb through. At one point the temple was burning incense and the slightest whiff of it, was just magical.
Nearby Recs
Beautiful and tranquil, definitely worth visiting. It’s 500 yen per person. We got there a little before 9AM and they open at 9AM. When we got there it was pretty empty with just 2-3 other guests.
For ¥500, you can have the bamboo forest all to yourself for picture taking. It’s a very serene site with a short climb to the top. The area houses a shrine and it’s located in a very nice residential district
