Kosanji Temple

Kosanji was established in 1206 by the priest Myoe on the orders of the Emperor, in the mountainous Takao area north of Kyoto long associated with Buddhist practice. Myoe built the temple as a center of learning and the arts, and many of the paintings, statues, and documents from that era survive in excellent condition despite devastating sixteenth-century fires. He is also credited with popularizing tea cultivation in Japan, and the temple still harvests tea from a small plot each year. A two-story main gate from 1717 and a Chinese-style bell tower gate are among the principal architectural landmarks on the approach to the main hall.