Enryakuji

滋賀県

World Heritage 'mother mountain of Japanese Buddhism' founded by Saicho — birthplace of Honen, Shinran, Dogen, Nichiren

Founded

788

Type

Temple

Visited

Want to go

Access

Cable car from Keihan Sakamoto-Hieizan-guchi Station

4220 Sakamotohonmachi, Otsu, Shiga

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Info

Temple

Founded 788

1238 years

Enshrined Deity

Overview

The head temple of the Tendai sect, founded in 788 (Enryaku 7) when Saicho built the Ichijo Shikan-in on Mount Hiei. The entire mountain was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. As the place that produced the founders of later Buddhist sects including Honen, Shinran, Eisai, Dogen, and Nichiren, Enryakuji is known as the Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism and ranks among the most im…

Origins

Founded in 788 when Saicho built Ichijo Shikanin on Mt. Hiei. Produced many founders of later Buddhist schools including Honen, Shinran, Eisai, Dogen, and Nichiren. Destroyed by Oda Nobunaga in 1571 and later rebuilt. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Pilgrimage Courses

Shinbutsu Reijo Pilgrimage

0 / 149 spots

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Shin-Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

0 / 38 spots

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Japan Top 100: Nara/Shiga/Wakayama

0 / 21 spots

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100 Temples ⑤ Kinki/Kyoto

0 / 29 spots

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Sites of Akechi Mitsuhide

0 / 5 spots

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句
Haiku Composed Here
— 1

春の海終日のたりのたりかな

Yosa Buson 1760年

Seasonal word

春の海（春）

蕪村の代表句。比叡山から望む琵琶湖の春の海、あるいは大阪湾の春の海を詠んだと伝わる。「のたりのたり」のオノマトペが絶妙。

Divine Benefits

Healing & Longevity

Warding Off Evil

Long Life

Recovery from illness, bodily wellness, peace of mind. Especially efficacious at Yakushi and Kannon temples.

Derived from the enshrined deity "薬師如来"

記
Related Articles
— 5

記

Enryakuji Temple and Tendai Buddhism: Visiting the Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism

Enryakuji on Mt. Hiei, founded by Saicho, is the head temple of Tendai Buddhism and the spiritual mother of Japanese Buddhism, with three distinct temple complexes: Todo, Saito, and Yokawa.

architecture

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記

Nobunaga's Siege of Enryakuji and the Ishiyama Honganji War

The burning of Enryakuji in 1571 and the decade-long siege of Ishiyama Honganji (1570–1580) are among the most dramatic episodes of the Sengoku era. Though Nobunaga was denounced as an enemy of the Buddha, his campaigns against religious establishments were a rational political strategy to dismantle the military and economic privileges that temple powers had accumulated over centuries.

era

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記

Samantabhadra: The Bodhisattva of Practice on the White Elephant

Samantabhadra (Fugen Bosatsu) is the bodhisattva of practice and the guardian of the Lotus Sutra, depicted riding a white elephant with six tusks. Paired with Manjushri beside Shakyamuni Buddha, he is revered for blessings of longevity, safe childbirth, and protection of women.

basics

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もっと詳しく · 2

史
Related Historical Events
— 1

850

Kōnin-Jōgan Culture

Early Heian culture centered on Emperor Saga's Kōnin era (810-824) and Emperors Seiwa-Yōzei's Jōgan era (859-877). Dominated by Esoteric Buddhism of Saichō's Tendai (Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji) and Kūkai's Shingon (Kōya-san Kongōbu-ji, Tō-ji), it produced mystical, powerful art. Representative works include single-block sculptures with "rolling-wave" drapery at Murō-ji, Gangō-ji, Kanshin-ji, and Jingo-ji; the Mandala of the Two Realms; and mountain temple architecture. Classical Chinese poetry flourished in three imperial anthologies. Kūkai was one of the Three Brushes alongside Emperor Saga and Tachibana no Hayanari.

人
Related Figures
— 3

Dogen

Founder of Soto Zen

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Dogen took the tonsure and trained at Enryakuji on Mount Hiei before founding the Soto Zen sect; the temple is known as the 'Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism' for producing later sect founders.

Shinran

Founder of Jōdo Shinshū

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Shinran trained at Enryakuji on Mount Hiei before founding the Jodo Shinshu sect; the temple is known as the 'Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism' for producing later sect founders.

Honen

Founder of Jodo Shu

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Honen studied at Enryakuji on Mount Hiei before founding the Jodo sect; the temple is known as the 'Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism' for producing later sect founders.

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Visiting Information

Hours

Tōdō (East Pagoda area) open year-round 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. Saitō and Yokawa areas: 9:30 AM–4:00 PM in Jan–Feb and Dec, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM in Mar–Nov. Last entry 3:45 PM for all areas.

Admission

Combined pilgrimage ticket (Tōdō, Saitō, Yokawa): adults ¥1,000, junior high ¥600, elementary ¥300. Kokuhōden (Treasure Museum) separately: adults ¥500, junior high ¥300, elementary ¥100 (combo ticket adults ¥1,500).

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

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The northernmost of Mt. Hiei's three pagoda compounds — a quiet sacred place of training opened by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), where Shinran, Dogen, and Nichiren all studied

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