Temple · Mount Hiei / Sakamoto

Enryakuji Temple (Mount Hiei) 延暦寺

Head temple of Tendai Buddhism founded in 788 on Mount Hiei, spread over three forested precincts; part of the Kyoto World Heritage site.

Hours9:00-16:00 (last entry 15:45); Saito and Yokawa open 30 min later Dec-Feb

PriceThree areas common ticket: ¥1,000
National Treasure Hall museum: ¥500

Getting thereCable Enryakuji Station (Sakamoto Cable), 10 min walk to Todo

Time neededHalf day

Best timeMay-June greenery; November autumn leaves

Address4220 Sakamotohonmachi, Otsu, Shiga 520-0116

Websitehieizan.or.jp

About

Enryakuji was founded by Saicho and trained the founders of many later Buddhist schools. Its halls are spread through cedar forest across the Todo, Saito and Yokawa areas on the mountain between Kyoto and Lake Biwa. The National Treasure Konponchudo, which keeps an 'eternal flame', is under a long-term renovation.

Highlights

Konponchudo main hall (National Treasure, under renovation)
Saito area's Shakado and Ninaido halls
Yokawa Chudo hall on its stone base
Views over Lake Biwa from the mountain

Tips

Konponchudo is covered by scaffolding during renovations (into about 2030); interior largely closed in 2026-27
A shuttle bus links the three areas; allow half a day
Reach it by Sakamoto Cable from Shiga or Eizan cable/ropeway from Kyoto

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-11

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Enryakuji Temple (Mount Hiei) 延暦寺

About

Highlights

Tips

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