Kurama-dera Temple

4.5 (200)・Tourist Attraction・Hiking Area・Park・Place Of Worship・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Kurama-dera Temple, perched on Mount Kurama in Kyoto, is a place of mystical beauty and spiritual significance. Founded in the 8th century, this temple is deeply connected to the practice of mountain worship and is said to be the home of Sojobo, the King of the Tengu (mythical bird-like creatures).

Getting to Kurama-dera is an adventure in itself. You can take a scenic train ride through lush forests, followed by a steep hike or a short cable car ride up the mountain. Along the way, you'll encounter various statues and smaller shrines that add to the enchanting atmosphere.

The temple grounds are expansive, featuring beautiful halls, tranquil gardens, and ancient trees. One of the highlights is the main hall, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The energy here is palpable, with many visitors reporting a profound sense of peace and rejuvenation.

Kurama-dera is also known for its annual fire festival, Kurama no Hi Matsuri, held every October. This vibrant event attracts crowds with its dramatic processions and large bonfires, celebrating the temple's spiritual heritage.

Hours:

9:00 AM - 4:15 PM

Closed:

No closing days

Available:

All year

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Admission Fee:

300 yen

Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Phone

+81 75-741-2003

Website

www.kuramadera.or.jp

The area

Address

1074 Kuramahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1111, Japan

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What other travelers are saying about Kurama-dera Temple

A great place to stop by when heading to Kifune Shire . This temple is not far away from the summit of Mt. Kurama. After hiking for 20 mins, this is the price of a beautiful temple on high up on a mountain. Some hall is under renovation , hope its done soon.

Willie Lorenzo

Sep 15, 2024

Kurama station is the last stop after Kibuneguchi station. From there, you can reach Kurama dera 3 minutes by foot. There is an admission fee of ￥500 by the gate, and after it you can decide whether to climb the trails or ride a 5 minute cable car (￥200 one-way). Aside from riding a 5 minute cable car, there are still walking trails and stairs along the way to the main shrine so be prepared. By the time I reached the main shrine, there were scaffoldings around it because of some minor renovations. Reaching the top is not easy, but you will feel rewarded once you accomplish it. If you have spare time, I recommend visiting the shrine.

夏美

Jul 28, 2024

One of the highlights of our Japan trip. We stayed in Kyoto and visited Mount Kurama on a day trip. The temple is incredible, especially if you walk up the stairs instead of the little cable car. We stayed for around 3 hours and walked across the mountain to the village on the other side.

Stephan Modest

Jun 9, 2024

This is a much quieter temple compared to the neighbouring Kifune Shrine. There is a 500¥ fee once you enter the temple grounds. Its a little bit of a tough walk to the main temple. If you have bad knees, do consider taking the cable car up (200¥ per trip). From there, there is still a bit of a hike up towards the temple. The scenery was very much greenery all over, during my visit in Mid-May 2024. Goshuin and omikuji are available inside the main hall.

狐鸣

May 17, 2024

Kurama temple is located at north of Kyoto city, the hike from the nearest train station is about half to one hour. The view is much different from summer and winter. The cable car is 5 mins traveling between entrance and top. Walking to the top is a good experience, there are hundreds year old cedar along the trail. To the top in front of temple, where is a famous energy spot. With short hike and clear Kyoto city view, this is a recommended place to everyone.