Zenporitsuji Temple

Zenporitsuji is a Ritsu school Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mt. Otokoyama. Approximately one hundred maple trees growing on the grounds give the temple its other name, Momijidera (“the maple tree temple”). They are particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn colors, as well as in the spring when the vibrant new foliage emerges.

Zenporitsuji was founded in the mid-thirteenth century as a bodaiji (family memorial temple) by Zenpoji Kyusei (also known as Miyakiyo), head of one of the families that served as top administrative officials of the nearby Iwashimizu Hachimangu back when it was a shrine-temple complex fusing Shinto and Buddhist religious practice. His great-granddaughter Ki no Yoshiko (1336–1413), who became the consort of the second Ashikaga shogun and the mother of the third, was a very influential patron of Zenporitsuji, and generations of Ashikaga shoguns honored the tradition of supporting the temple after her. It is said that the famous maple trees began with her donations.

The grounds of Zenporitsuji are open to the public, but visitors who wish to enter the main hall need to make a reservation in advance. Please note that inquiries are accepted only in Japanese.