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Kyoto’s Rurikoin Temple to offer stunning views of autumn leaves for a limited time next month

Krista Rogers Oct 25, 2015
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Tourists flock to Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto during the cherry blossom-viewing days of spring, but equally stunning are the sights of brilliantly colored autumn leaves amidst ancient structures that have remained undisturbed for hundreds of years.

One particular temple, Rurikoin, stands on the edge of the city and is a paradise for photographers during the autumn months, as well as visitors who didn’t even know they had an artistic side yet spend hours playing with different lighting effects there. While Rurikoin is not always open for general admission from year to year, we’re in luck because this year the building will indeed open its doors for the span of one short month.

Located on the outskirts of Kyoto is Rurikoin (瑠璃光院), a Buddhist temple which only opens to the public for very limited time periods in the spring and autumn months, if at all, during any given year. It’s said that once you see the color-changing autumn leaves at Rurikoin, you won’t need to see them anywhere else–perfectly encapsulating the temple’s leaves’ nickname of 幻の紅葉 (“illusionary autumn leaves”).

Mark your calendars because this year, Rurikoin will be open for public viewing from Sunday, November 1 through Monday, November 30. In commemoration of the rapidly approaching opening date, let’s take a look at some past photos of the temple and leaves, shall we?

八瀬の蓮華寺・瑠璃光院はここを見たまま撮れたなら写真をやめてもいいと言われるほどの美しさです。毎年観られるわけではないのでチャンスを逃さないようにしましょう。 http://t.co/7a8n7W181S pic.twitter.com/9sNzzu7iLx

— suizouさんと他2022人 (@suizou) October 19, 2015

https://twitter.com/daijobu0315/status/539936639150075904

もう見ることができないと思っていた、八瀬の瑠璃光院が11/15～11/30まで期間限定公開ということで行ってまいりました(^^ゞ写真は書院二階からの定番の景色です。 #瑠璃光院 pic.twitter.com/5fkK70m11E

— 雨蛙 (@amagael884) November 20, 2014

叡山電車にガタゴト揺られ八瀬・瑠璃光院へ。 pic.twitter.com/GEVezmx6c2

— tomtom (@tomtombeat) November 25, 2014

瑠璃光院の椛は50種以上あるので、とても色とりどりです。光の加減によってもその彩が変わり何度でも来たくなります。 pic.twitter.com/3Xos9CqlRd

— suizouさんと他2022人 (@suizou) November 24, 2013

https://twitter.com/mysteric_blue/status/515191905420722176

As pictured above, the temple offers a nighttime illumination event during certain years. There’s no such event at the temple planned for this year–instead, the maple trees surrounding the temple and the banks of the nearby Takano River will be lit up for the first time ever! The illumination event will be held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays between November 7-29 from sunset to 8 pm.

▼ Where the illumination event will be held this year

八瀬（もみじの小径）、初の紅葉ライトアップが決定しました！瑠璃光院・高野川にかかる鮮やかな紅葉がライトアップされます。11月7日〜29日の金土日・祝日（日没〜20時） https://t.co/p0qckigiGX pic.twitter.com/ZXgIhFoWMw

— suizouさんと他2022人 (@suizou) October 22, 2015

You can feast your hungry eyes upon even more exquisite pictures of Rurikoin here. But don’t get too distracted, because you’ve got to start packing for a trip to Kyoto next month!

Temple Information
Rurikoin/瑠璃光院
Address: 〒601-1255 京都府京都市左京区上高野東山55
55 Kamitakano Higashiyama, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu, 601-1255
2015 hours: November 1-November 30, 10 am-4 pm
Entrance fee: 2,000 yen (US$16.47)
Website

Take the Keihan Main/Oto Line to Demachi-yanagi Station and then transfer to the Eizan Main Line, eventually getting off at Yase-Hieizan-guchi Station (the last station of the line). The one-way journey from central Kyoto takes approximately 50 minutes.

Source: Naver Matome
Featured image: Matcha Japan Travel Magazine/Keishi Kawakami