Landmark

Kurama-dera

Kyoto, Japan

Candidate image for Kurama-dera in Kyoto

Kurama-dera occupies a mountainside north of Kyoto, where temple halls and forest paths form one continuous setting. The mountain’s cedar groves and changing elevation make the walk itself part of the visit.

Guide preview

At Kurama-dera, the path through the mountain is part of the temple experience. The complex sits among cedar groves north of central Kyoto, where elevation, forest, and religious buildings form a connected landscape.

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Quick facts

  • Kurama-dera was founded in 770.
  • It is located in a cedar-covered mountain setting north of Kyoto.
  • Its teachings form a distinct Buddhist tradition.

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