Nison-in Temple: The Maple Path of Two Buddhas
Why is it significant?
Pass through the imposing wooden main gate of Nison-in Temple and behold the celebrated Momiji-no-baba, or 'Maple Horse Path,' a wide gravel avenue flanked on both sides by hundreds of ancient Japanese maple trees.
Key Facts
| Place | Nison-in Temple: The Maple Path of Two Buddhas |
|---|---|
| Address | 27 Sagaogurayama Nisoninmonzen Chojincho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8425, Japan |
| Geo Coordinates | 35.02160, 135.66780 |
| Part of Walk | Kyoto: Arashiyama and Sagano, Bamboo Groves and Zen Sanctuaries |
| Generated | Generated |
Pass through the imposing wooden main gate of Nison-in Temple and behold the celebrated Momiji-no-baba, or 'Maple Horse Path,' a wide gravel avenue flanked on both sides by hundreds of ancient Japanese maple trees. In late autumn, their intermeshed branches form a breathtaking tunnel of fiery scarlet and amber that draws admirers from across the nation, while in summer the avenue offers a peaceful promenade of deep green shade. The broad promenade was specifically designed with generous proportions so that imperial couriers and aristocratic processions arriving on horseback could approach the inner sanctuary in dignified splendor. Founded in the ninth century by the monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin on the order of Emperor Saga, Nison-in stands as one of the most venerable Tendai and Pure Land temples in the Sagano district.
The name Nison-in literally means 'Temple of the Two Revered Ones.' Inside the main worship hall, enshrined side by side on golden lotus pedestals, are two identical thirteenth-century statues of Buddha: Shaka Nyorai, the historical Buddha who guides the living during their earthly journey, and Amida Nyorai, the Buddha of Infinite Light who welcomes departed souls into the Western Pure Land. This paired veneration is unique among Kyoto's major Buddhist sanctuaries.
Walk up to the Bonsho, or temple peace bell, housed in an open-sided timber pavilion on the hillside. Known as the 'Bell of Happiness,' it invites visitors to strike its heavy wooden beam three times: the first toll rings for your own inner peace, the second for the happiness of your loved ones, and the third for harmony across the world.
In the terraced mountain cemetery behind the temple lie the resting places of numerous prominent Japanese figures, including Sanjo Sanetomi, one of the primary architects of the eighteen sixty-eight Meiji Restoration, and generations of classical master calligraphers.
Turn westward along the quiet residential lane to discover the secluded, thatched sanctuary of Gio-ji Temple.