Sennyu-ji Temple, a family temple for the Imperial Family, is affectionately called Mi-tera by citizens. Temples are almost always situated in high locations, and so we usually look up to the buildings when we are at the gate. But in Mi-tera, the main building is placed in a the lower location and is behind a thick wood. It is as if the temple wants to hide in the forest from our view. Mi-tera also has a lot of highlights: a house covering a natural fountain source, a beautiful garden at the Gozasho Hall, a wooden statue of Yang Guifei (Yokihi) brought from the Tang Dynasty, Sei Shonagon’s memorial stone, and so on.
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Kyoto Sennyu-ji Temple
Imperial family temple hidden in the deep forest

Community writer

Sennyu-ji Temple is hidden in a deep forest

Half of the building is behind a thick wood

Gozasho Hall and its garden

Dimly visible in the drizzling rain

House covering a natural fountain source

Garden in May

Seisho-nagon’s memorial stone

Side view of Butsu-den (Main) Hall

Room inside Honbo

Imperial Mausoleum is just beyond the gate

Village shrine on the temple grounds

Moss covered field

Hall housing wooden statue of Yang Guei-fei (Yokihi)

San-mon Gate

Sitting along the edge of this wooden corridor, I enjoyed a quiet time
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