Gansenji Temple

Quiet Shingon temple in the mountains of Kizugawa — starting point of a classic pilgrimage walk to Jōruri-ji.

Gansen-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple set in the forested mountains on the eastern edge of Kizugawa in Kyōto Prefecture. The compound is known for its serene, woodland atmosphere and houses valuable Buddhist sculptures and a five-storey stone pagoda. It serves as the starting point of a popular pilgrimage route that winds past ancient stone carvings to the neighbouring Jōruri-ji temple. Especially beautiful in autumn when the surrounding forest glows in reds and gold.