Zenrin-ji Temple Live Cam

Historical Foundations

Zenrin-ji Temple Kyoto, also known as Eikandō Zenrin-ji, traces its origins to the early Heian period, when the revered monk Shōkū established a small hermitage in 853. As an essential site in “Kyoto temple history,” it was initially affiliated with the Tendai sect before adopting Pure Land and later Zen Buddhist traditions. Over centuries, the temple earned renown for its deep-rooted spiritual practices and its evolving role in “Kyoto cultural heritage.” Visitors searching for “Zenrin-ji Temple Kyoto” will discover that its layered history reflects the shifts in Japanese religious architecture and landscape design from the 9th through the 17th centuries.