Zenrin-ji Eikando

Eikando Zenrin-​ji (永観堂 禅林寺) is one of the famous & popular Japanese temple as the area of beautiful colored leaves in Autumn in Kyoto, Japan.
However Spring is also wonderful season to visit here. You can see awesome contrast fresh green leaves and colored leaves.
At the middle of April in every year (22 to 25, April ?), they have Buddhist service for Honen holy priest (法然上人). It is performed in a very solemn atmosphere. You can watch it if lucky.

Beautiful temple, peaceful and not loaded with tourists– highly recommend. Pictures seriously don’t do it justice.

Simply amazing. One of the most excellent places to see koyo/​autumn leaves in Kyoto, or maybe even the world.
As part of my Kyoto fall colors adventure, I hit up Eikando at the end of my trip during the third weekend of November. It was the best and worst time to go. The place was very crowded, though it was not as bad as Tofukuji, since Eikando is very large.
Once you enter the first gate, your eyes are met with beautiful colors of the trees along the walkway to the ticket gate. I swear, every single person that stepped through said «kirei/​beautiful» as their eyes widened at the site. But I can’t blame them with the vibrant green, orange, red, and yellow melting together in the sky. That weekend there was a line to get tickets (￥1000/​adult for the day) but it only took maybe 5 – 10 minutes when I got there in the afternoon.
After entering the temple grounds, you are free to walk around, however there is a general direction in which people go through the temple halls including a rock garden by Shaka-​do/​Hall of Buddha, Mie-​do/​Honen Shrine, and a sideways facing Buddha in Amida-​do/​Amida Hall, and end up with a nice view of the Hojo pond and bridge. I also took the stairs up near the first hall to the Pagoda at the top — took a bit less than five minutes, and it is cool to see some of the Eikan-​do building tops in a sea of red leaves.
Eikan-​do is a must-​see in the Fall, despite the crowds and steep price during the fall season. I would go as far to say it has been one of the most beautiful places I have been to in Japan.
Note that the temple last entry is around 4/4:30 to prepare for the light-​ups they have that start around 5/5:30, so don’t try and go in at that time. Light-​up is ￥600, though I didn’t get a chance to go this time around.

I came here with my friends of college days. Upon getting off the bus, we went astray not to realize where our destination was. This is because near this temple, another famous temple, Nanzenji is located. It takes five minutes’ walk from the nearest bus stop, Nanzejji Eikandoumiti. Be careful not to go to Nanzenji temple, where you get off the bus at the same stop.
By the way Eikando was established in 853, and it has a long-​standing history. It is also a famous spot as autumn-​leaves viewing place. Of course we visited here during the season.
The cream of this temple is that the image of Amitabha looking back called «Mikaeri Amidanyorai» is enshrined in the main hall. It is a strange posture, to say that it looks over its left shoulder. It is rare to see such styles of images. There seems to be some reasons why it does such a strange posture. Waiting for people who are late than it, looking back upon its own position, for love and sympathy, being considerate and staring at the people in the neighborhood deeply, acting as a leader and advancing with all creatures forward definitely. Just looking at this image, I had to look back on myself. I had a calm feeling in front of this image.
During autumn, this temple is also illuminated at night, but a lot of viewers are expected. I have not yet come here at night.

I loved Eikan-​do. Mainly because there weren’t many tourists here and it seemed like I could just venture into whatever part of the place I wanted to. It’s a pretty large temple and you’re allowed access into most buildings here. There’s a good view when you climb all the way up to the pagoda. Free green tea is also self-​dispensed.