Jissoin Temple

As I was going up the stone steps, beautiful red maple leaves were approaching me. This temple is one of the famous autumn-​leaves viewing spots in Kyoto. In addition it is a hideout.
This Jissoin is a Monzeki temple, which is a temple where the priest is a relative or a member of the imperial family. So this temple has another name, Iwakura Monzeki. It was transferred from the vicinity of Kyoto Imperial Palace to this Iwakura area to escape from the fierce battleship of Oninnoran in the 15^th century. In this place people of high class families gathered to hold tea ceremonies or Waka poetry meetings. Chief of Foreign Ministry Tomomi Iwakura stayed and had secret meetings here in the 19^th century.
Historic stories are put aside. The attractive points of this temple are Kanou school screen and wall paintings and the mirror-​like floor. The paintings of a tiger, cranes, pine trees and so on are magnificent and overwhelming! Green colored leaves or colored maple leaves in the garden to be seen from the interval of the opened sliding doors reflect the floor of the main hall, which is breathtaking beauty! Both of them are called «Yuka Midori» (floor green) and «Yuka Momiji» (floor autumn leaves). I came here only in autumn and was deeply moved by the beautiful crimson maple leaves reflecting on the floor.
Kiyomizu temple, Kinkakuji temple or Golden Pavillion, Fushimi Inari shrine is especially popular among foreign tourists. However first of all, I really recommend this hideout temple!