What other travelers are saying about Kurama-dera Temple
This is something to experience. It is a little off the grid and not nearly as crowded. We went in mid May. We took our time once of the fernicular going up first hill. We did the walk over the mountain to Kibune. It was a wonderful walk with a fair amount alone. We were spaced out and occasionally passed people coming in other direction. It was unexpected when a wild monkey crossed our path and we saw 2 more cleaning up.
Recommend training to enter Kumadera and walk to Kibune to eat, catch an Uber back to the On-Sen and then train back to Kyoto.
What a gem! Went there in the morning during the busy Sakura season and it was almost empty. Very quiet and serene. Took the ropeway walked to the top and then went through root path to Kibune. It was a great 1/2 day trip including visiting both temple and shrine and lunch in Kibune.
A wonderful place that just feels alive and is filled with natural beauty as well as spiritual intensity. The scents of the forest and inspiring shrines and temples welcome visitors who take the time to explore this legendary area. One should definitely wear proper shoes however.
Unfortunately, the hike up was quite exhausting, and the shrines may not feel particularly special if you’ve already visited others in Kyoto. It is a sacred site and may be worth visiting as a pilgrimage, but be prepared for a two-hour uphill and downhill walk. We went quite early and I could not recover from it in the rest of the day (in the scorching June heat.)
Kurama-dera Temple is a peaceful gem in the mountains just north of Kyoto. What like about it is that it has lesser tourists here compared to other famous temples. The hike up is scenic, passing through towering cedar trees and offering fresh mountain air-well worth the effort, though there’s also a cable car if you prefer that will cost you 200¥ per person for one way trip. Our hike took us slightly more than an hour to reach the main temple area. Along the way, we even spotted few deers along hiking path. It was worth it!
We then took the cable car down and the view was beautiful although the trip down was just about 2 minutes long.
The temple itself is spacious, rarely crowded, and features stunning views over the valley. If you love nature, history, or just want a break from the city crowds, Kurama-dera is a fantastic and memorable spot to visit.
