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.
great place especially if you are into hiking. not that touristy so you can enjoy the scenery comfortably. A lot of locals going here for praying so just respect each other while seeing them praying.
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.
It was beautiful shrine up the hill, we went there in summer so it was really challenging. But once we’re there, it’s worth every step. If you love hiking then this is the place, we did it around 4 hours to go up and down. We paused many times due to the heat, bring water to avoid dehydration
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.
