Keisoku-ji Temple Ruins

OVERVIEW

Embracing Autumn’s Splendor and Cultural Heritage

**IMPORTANT NOTE**
This area is a residential community. Please be considerate by keeping voices down, staying off private property, and not littering.

Known as the ‘carpet of red maple,’ Keisoku-ji Temple lures visitors annually with its enchanting autumn foliage. Stone steps, gently lined by the moss-covered retaining walls, imbue a serene atmosphere, complemented by the presence of two hundred maple trees along the pathway.

Established in 735 by Gyoki, one of the most esteemed monks in Japanese Buddhism, Keisoku-ji Temple experienced a decline early on before being revived in 799 by Saicho, who laid the groundwork for Japanese Buddhism. Over 1000 years, the temple has seen cycles of prosperity and decline, now being upheld by its local residents. The original temple hall no longer stands. The primary deity, an eleven-faced Kannon statue, now resides in the Kokokaku Hall. Alongside the Yoshiro Hall, there are numerous other significant cultural assets, including a Yakushi Nyorai statue and Twelve Heavenly Generals statues, a heritage designated by Shiga Prefecture.