The Beauty of Kurama - 1

Entrance to deep forests of mysterious Kyoto mountain

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

This interesting guy will greet you as you get off the train at Kurama

Before hiking up to Kurama Temple, and over the mountain to Kifune, there are smaller temples and shrines along the way. This is the first one you will come to, and it is well guarded...

And through the gate, a glimpse of magnificent cedar

Up up up! The beauty of these magnificent trees have to be seen to be believed

In Japan, these magnificent old trees are treated as spiritual objects

It was very early in the morning...who are these for, I wondered?!

The mountains north of Kyoto are known for being mysterious and spiritual. This is especially true of Kurama and its lovely temple. Here, you'll find colorful red goblins with a two-meter long nose, huge ancient cedar trees that climb up up up into the air, wonderful views of the surrounding valleys, and small temples and shrines in the middle of nowhere as you walk up and over the pass to the resort town of Kibune. Oh, I forgot to mention the beautiful statues, the interesting history, and the birth of Reiki Healing. Kurama has it all!

The Beauty of Kurama

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By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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Julian Bohler 10 years ago

Hey Larry,
Thank you for those wonderful pictures! I visited Kurama countless times, it is indeed a very special place, like no other in Kyoto! Did you get a chance to visit the hidden underground room in the main hall? It has 3 splendid statues, one with wings too, very mystical...

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