Enryaku-ji Temple

Information

Enryaku-ji Temple was founded in 788 by Saicho (Dengyo Daishi), the priest who established the Tendai school of Buddhism. As the headquarters of the Tendai school, the temple possessed some 3,000 temple buildings and an army of thousands of Sohei, or warrior monks at its height.
In 1581, Oda Nobunaga regarded the temple's growing power as a threat to his ambition to unify the nation, and he ravaged most of the temple buildings along with the monks inside.
Today, there are about 200 buildings in the temple grounds that are separated into three sections - Todo, Saito and Yokawa. The Todo section is the birthplace of the temple. It contains the Konpon Chudo Hall (Primary Central Hall) dates from 1642. This is the main hall of the temple and is also the largest hall in the temple. The Saito section, located about one kilometer north of Todo, contains the Shaka-do Hall dates from the Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333). This hall, moved from Onjo-ji Temple (Mii-dera) in 1596, is the oldest existing building in the temple. The Yokawa section, located about four kilometers north of Saito, contains the Yokawa Chudo Hall that is constructed in the Butai-zukuri (or platform) architectural style.
Enryaku-ji Temple was registered as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto in 1994.

Opening Hours

8:30 - 16:30 (March - November)
9:00 - 16:00 (December)
9:00 - 16:30 (January - February)

Closed

No closing days

Price / Entrance Fee

700 yen (General, Adult)
500 yen (Student)
300 yen (Child)
Kokuho-den Treasure House: 500yen (General, Adult); 300 yen (Student) 100 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

70 minutes from JR Kyoto Station by the bus bound for Hieisanchou. Get off at Enryakuji bus center Bus stop.
14 minutes walk from Sakamoto Station on the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line. Take the Sakamoto Cable Line at Cable Sakamoto Station and get off at Cable Enryakuji Station.

Address / Location

4220, Sakamotohommachi, Otsu-shi, Shiga, 520-0116

Tweets

Discover Japanese Culture and Learn the Language @japanculture4u - 2020-06-07: Who were the warrior monks in Heian period from 794 to 1185？

The warrior monks called Sohei in japanese fought for… https://t.co/hpqEcZMBAU
Tokyonobo @Tokyonobo - 2020-04-23: The last two photos are the temple complex of Enryaku- ji.
It was established by Saicho #最澄 (767–822), also known a… https://t.co/x6rg3MHyJi
tempura.tv @TvTempura - 2020-02-06: 'Re-Post'
This blog was posted on Jan 2019.
Hieizan Enryaku Temple was covered with snow. Have you seen such a beau… https://t.co/HL44xaIsEA
erniesfo @erniesfo - 2020-01-19: ASAHI GRAPHIC MAGAZINE, 1971⠀
On John's first vacation to Japan with Yoko, she takes him to Enryaku Temple, a spraw… https://t.co/Aebwx2hCR7
SHIKIBU in Osaka, Japan🇯🇵, & I'm an iOS app dev. @SHIKIBU_Automat - 2019-12-16: 🇯🇵Japan's Hieizan-Enryaku-ji temple(比叡山延暦寺) in Winter⛩️
The temple was built by Saichō(最澄, he is a legendary Japane… https://t.co/WvykPkL9AB
Historical Events @hisdates - 2019-08-13: August - 13, 1536 - Buddhist monks from KyÅto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren te... https://t.co/NXHQhKf7k2 #timeline #reference
John @pasadenajohn - 2019-08-13: 1536 Buddhist monks from Kyōto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokk… https://t.co/bAfrygCa6M
Tokyonobo @Tokyonobo - 2019-06-01: The temple complex of Enryaku- ji was established by Saicho #最澄 (767–822), also known as Dengyo Daishi #伝教大師, who i… https://t.co/ZtNeublp8E
Tokyonobo @Tokyonobo - 2019-06-01: The temple complex of Enryaku- ji was established by Saicho #最澄 (767–822), also known as Dengyo Daishi #伝教大師, who i… https://t.co/ZtNeublp8E
無神論者。卍 @Elucidatus - 2019-04-22: The chief Buddhist priest of Enryaku temple, Ryogen is credited with creating the first Buddhist warrior army in 970. It became feared…..
経験は最高の教師だ。卍 @Elucidatus - 2019-04-22: The chief Buddhist priest of Enryaku temple, Ryogen is credited with creating the first Buddhist warrior army in 970. It became feared…..
Seeing Japan @Seeing_Japan - 2019-01-18: Kyoto Tour: Enryaku-ji Temple & Sanzen-in Temple Kyoto Travel Guide Kyoto Tour: Enryaku-ji Temple & Sanzen-in Templ… https://t.co/WjCYCLpPR8
Seeing Japan @Seeing_Japan - 2018-12-21: Kyoto Tour: Enryaku-ji Temple & Sanzen-in Temple Kyoto Travel Guide Kyoto Tour: Enryaku-ji Temple & Sanzen-in Templ… https://t.co/WDlNHsFokb
きくしー 🍓 @kixidoll - 2018-09-22: Since you said you wanted to see Momiji :D @superphi https://t.co/qN71LMVfUm
Tony @Tonylean - 2018-08-14: 1536 Buddhist monks from Kyōto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hok… https://t.co/ElTmTa2eHS
Historical Events @hisdates - 2018-08-13: August - 13, 1536 - Today in history buddhist monks from KyÅto's Enryaku Temple set fire ... https://t.co/NXHQhKf7k2 #events #happened
John @pasadenajohn - 2018-08-13: 1536 Buddhist monks from Kyōto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokk… https://t.co/UQMqkwb6XK
Marina Amaral @marinamaral2 - 2018-08-13: #OnThisDay in 1536: Buddhist monks from Kyōto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in… https://t.co/7Xi4TQurGN
Paul Scott @YBG_Paul - 2018-08-13: 1536 Buddhist monks from Ky_to's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokk… https://t.co/iBz3pxLKKf
Voyapon @Voyapon - 2018-06-27: Most people usually reach Mount Hiei, a #mountain at the border of the #Kyoto and #Shiga Prefectures, with one of t… https://t.co/kV82ASv3fC
experience_japan @kyo_ninja - 2018-04-22: I have the #bell of #Enryaku #Temple all to myself. Ring this to get rid of the 33 ill fated #desires everyone is s… https://t.co/lJrbUETGiS
明らめる卍 @Elucidatus - 2018-02-17: The chief Buddhist priest of Enryaku temple, Ryogen is credited with creating the first Buddhist warrior army in 970. It became feared…..
明らめる卍 @Elucidatus - 2017-12-27: The chief Buddhist priest of Enryaku temple, Ryogen is credited with creating the first Buddhist warrior army in 97… https://t.co/OE9BIQg5AO
Graham Jenkins @grahamsjenkins_ - 2017-12-21: 1536:

May 19 - Anne Boleyn, second wife of English King Henry VIII, is beheaded at the Tower of London on charges… https://t.co/otK7FUAaLM
experience_japan @kyo_ninja - 2017-11-07: #Renovations after 400 years. Says something about #Japanese #Architecture. #Enryaku #temple, high in the… https://t.co/bllsAMAFj9
experience_japan @kyo_ninja - 2017-10-27: The #bell that #echoes your #enternal #desires. #Enryaku #temple, way up high in the #mountains of #Kyoto, #Japan. https://t.co/4OCbGDBhtN
エリーザ @eli_elichan - 2017-09-20: @kenshimiz Enryaku-ji- Temple with great history ❤
efficient_sysytem @Efficient_syete - 2017-08-27: Japanese Tradition and Culture: Word heritage in Kyoto(6) ---Enryaku-ji temple ---... https://t.co/rzgWaZZNWU
George Costanza @FeatOfStrength - 2017-08-13: 13 Aug 1536 Tenbun Hokke Disturbance: Buddhist monks from Japan's Enryaku-ji temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples… https://t.co/2xjNNzcTNJ
John @pasadenajohn - 2017-08-13: 1536 Buddhist monks from Kyōto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance.