كيوتو

06‏/07‏/2014

The Beauty of Kurama - 3

Surprises along the mountain trail to Kibune

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

View from Kurama Temple, just before setting off for Kibune

As you can see, you are really deep in the mountains here

Another one of the small prayer stations along the mountain path

Hiking over the mountain, from Kurama to Kibune, you will suddenly come upon some small shrines/temples

This prayer station was actually quite elaborate, despite being deep in the mountain

It felt so wonderful to come across this scene of beauty in the middle of nowhere

The beautiful temple/shrine crest

This is both a rest spot, and prayer station

Small prayer stations are often placed near large trees, treated as holy objects

After leaving Kurama Temple, many people hike over the mountain to Kibune, a lovely resort area. The hike is not that difficult, but you should definitely NOT attempt it in high-heels, like one woman I saw! As you walk through the deep forest, you will suddenly come to small shrine and temple buildings, and more large beautiful cedar trees. For hundreds of years, this mysterious forest was home to ascetics, who trained themselves here, far away from the hustle and bustle of life in Kyoto. This mountain is also where master swordsmanship and samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune learned the art of war, and where Mikao Usui, founder of Reiki, developed his healing art in the early 1920s. And don't forget the goblins!

The Beauty of Kurama

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Larry Knipfing

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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