Mount Kurama Japan

In this video, I travelled to Kyoto, Japan, and took the Eizan Line northeast of the city to the town of Kurama, about 12 kilometres from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Kurama Temple was founded in 770 and was established as the guardian of the northern quarter of the ancient capital, Heiankyo. The temple is a beautiful place for local pilgrims to visit, and over the years it has also become a popular destination for tourists enjoying hikes and day trips in the countryside close to Kyoto, yet far enough away to feel peaceful and remote. The area is especially known for its beautiful autumn scenery, when people come to admire the leaves changing from green to shades of yellow, red, and purple before they fall from the trees. I also love the area in spring, when the azaleas, wisteria, and rhododendrons are in full bloom, along with the many colours of the camellias. The walk up to the temple / monastery is not difficult, and it is a beautiful place to begin an early morning walk into the hills behind.