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Photo: PlusMinus, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
In 1034 Emperor Go-Ichijo gave Yoshimine-dera imperial rank, so the head priest was a member of the imperial family for many years, although it is no longer so today. The 20th temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage.
Yoshimine-dera (善峯寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Ōharano neighborhood of Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon are two hibutsu statues of Jūichimen Kannon. The temple's full name is Nishiyama Yoshimine-dera. The temple grounds are located on Yoshimine, a northeastern branch of Mount Shaka, near the southwestern edge of Kyoto City. Numerous buildings are scattered across the mountainside. The temple is the 20th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route.
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正法寺
A Shingon sect temple featuring an impressive statue of the 3-faced thousand armed Kannon and a beautiful, well-kept Zen rock garden. Many of the rocks within the garden were chosen to resemble animals, like a rabbit and frog.
勝持寺
Nicknamed Cherry Blossom Temple (hana no tera), it hosts a beautiful display of blossoms in the spring.
大原野神社 Ōharano jinja
The shrine is believed to have been moved to Nagaokakyo at the bidding of Empress Kammu, who made it the shrine of the Fujiwara family's guardian god. The Imperial Court made annual offerings at this shrine. The pond within the shrine precincts was once a popular place for writing poetry. The Sengan-zakura tree in the precincts is nicknamed "phantom cherry blossom", because it only blooms for just 2-3 days. Some say if you see it in bloom, it will bring you good luck. Because the area is removed from the inner city, the shrine is quite peaceful; it is not unusual to have the entire place to yourself.
For those interested in horse races, Kyoto's racecourse is the biggest and most significant in the Kansai area.
Although Jōnan-gū Shrine is rarely visited by foreign tourists, it is a beautiful shrine with extensive history. It was established by Emperor Kammu when Kyoto became the nation's capital. At the end of the Heian period, it became home to retired emperor Goshirakawa. As a result, the beautiful Rakusui-en Garden was constructed. As a former Imperial Villa, Jōnan-gū Shrine is a great alternative for those who are unable to secure reservations to Shugakuin or Katsura Imperial Villas, because no reservations are required to enter Jōnan-gū Shrine's garden.
寺田屋
It was here at this inn where Ryōma Sakamoto, a famous samurai who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa, was injured in an attack, although he escaped. Some pictures, his handgun, and other historical artifacts are viewable inside.