A Temple filled with hundreds of stone statues in Arashiyama
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple (化野念仏寺) is located at the end of the Saga-Toriimoto preserved street in Arashiyama. The temple is said to have been founded around 8th century, when the famous monk Kukai placed stone statues for the souls of the dead here.
In the area, funeral rites had been performed since ancient times and people prayed to stone Buddhist statuettes remembering the departed. The place was named “Sai-no-kawara” , riverbed of souls along “Sanzu-no-kawa”, the river styx that is said to be between the pure land and this world. Today, the temple grounds and a short path leads through a bamboo forest are covered by hundreds of such stone images and pagodas, which used to be for the graves of people buried in the area.
Kiyu-no-ma in the building exhibits flowers and other things of the season for free Visitors can enjoy the scenery of the season, such as cherry blossom in spring, bamboo forest, and autumn colored leaves.
Address : 17 Sagatoriimoto Adashinocho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8436
Access : 30-minute walk from Saga-Arashiyama station on the JR Sanin-main line.
Buses : Take Kyoto City bus No.62 and 72 towards Arashiyama and Kiyotaki to Toriimoto bus stop, and then 4 minutes on foot.
Hours : 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:00 from December to February)
Closed : No closing days
Admission : 500 yen
Events
Sento-Kuyo Candle Festival
“Sento-Kuyo” candle festival is held on at Adashino-Nenbutsu-ji Temple in Arashiyama Thousands of candles are lit up for the departed buried in Sai-no-kawara, the river styx that is said to be between the pure land and this world. illuminated numerous stone images creating pure land scenery.