Kaijusen-ji Temple

Remote Shingon temple in the hills near Kyoto, home to a National Treasure pagoda.

Kaijusen-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple nestled in the mountains north of Kizugawa in Kyoto Prefecture. Its five-storied pagoda is designated a National Treasure of Japan and is the architectural highlight of the site. The temple lies well off the main tourist routes, preserving a quietly forested atmosphere. Founded in the early medieval period, it is one of the culturally significant sites of the Yamashiro region. Close inspection of the pagoda reveals the fine craftsmanship of classical Japanese timber architecture.