Jakkoin Temple

Jakko-in sits quietly in the mountain village of Ohara in northeastern Kyoto, a Tendai Buddhist nunnery with over a thousand years of history. Its grounds are blanketed in moss and shaded by maples. The temple is tied to Empress Kenreimon-in, the sole survivor of the defeated Taira clan, who spent her final decades here in seclusion. Autumn draws visitors for the hillside colors, but the lush summer green and snow-dusted winter scenes are equally worth the trip. The walk from the bus stop passes through quiet farmland and pickle shops that make Ohara famous. Pair it with nearby Sanzen-in for a full half-day in the countryside.