May 24, 2014 - 1 min read

Quiet and Tranquil Kurodani Temple

Enjoy discovering details in this hilly modest temple

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

The early morning sun in early May hitting this beautiful stone just right

Climbing the stone steps to hall and temple bell (on the left)

The shadow of roof tiles on the side of a temple building

Entrance gate at the top of the stone steps

Small garden in front of one of the temple buildings

Long outdoor wooden corridor with a drum being stored at the end

More surprises under the long wooden corridor

Lotus pots; they will be in full bloom from mid-Jul to mid August

I'm guessing that Kurodani Temple is not high on the 'Recommended List' of most guide books. That's fine - let's keep it that way. The temple is quiet and tranquil and is mostly visited by locals, and families visiting the graves of their loved ones in the cemetery that covers the hillside surrounding the temple. But I will visit Kurodani every time I visit Kyoto; it's one of my favorites (along with a similar but much wilder cemetery in Nagasaki). If you are looking for a place where you can be by yourself, but not alone, this is the place! No crowds, no lines, no fees. It doesn't try to impress you, and so is very impressive.

-Exploring the Kurodani Cemetery - 1

-Exploring the Kurodani Cemetery - 2