Kurama-dera sits partway up a forested mountain at the northern edge of the areas covered by this site, one stop before Kibune on the Eizan Railway — introduced briefly in our Kitayama & Kibune guide, and substantial enough to warrant its own closer look.
A temple with its own mythology
Kurama-dera has a distinctive spiritual identity separate from Kyoto's mainstream Buddhist temples, centred on Sonten, a cosmic spirit unique to the temple's own teachings. The mountain is also strongly associated in local legend with tengu — mythical mountain-dwelling spirits — and with the early training of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a major figure in Japanese medieval history said to have trained here as a boy.
The hike to Kibune
A genuine hiking trail crosses the mountain between Kurama-dera and Kibune Shrine, roughly an hour on foot through forest, passing the temple's upper halls along the way — one of the more rewarding short hikes accessible from central Kyoto, connecting two distinct destinations rather than doubling back the way you came.
The onsen
Kurama Onsen, near the base of the mountain, offers an outdoor bath with valley views — a genuinely scenic setting, and one of the more accessible outdoor onsen experiences within reach of central Kyoto without a long-distance trip. See our onsen etiquette guide before your first visit if it's new to you.