Enryaku-ji Temple of Mount Hiei

Enryaku-ji of Mount Hiei is located in Otsu City, in southern Shiga Prefecture. It is the headquarters of Tendai sect Japanese Buddhism, that was built in the Heian Period, and is now registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enryaku-ji doesn’t indicate a specific temple building, but is the collective name for 150 temple buildings in the area. Surrounding the central Konponchu-do, this includes the Todo, Saito, and Yokawa temples. One of the most famous attractions in Enryaku-ji are the 3 lanterns, called ‘Fumetsu no Hoto (eternal flame).’ These lanterns of fire have burned continuously for over 1200 years since the temple's establishment. With their unwavering flames, they continue to show the importance of inheriting history and tradition through the generations
Because Mount Hiei is in a higher altitude, the temperature is 5 degrees lower than Kyoto on average. This makes Enryaku-ji also popular as a summer resort. In the autumn, the leaves of around 2,000 trees take on a beautiful red and yellow coat. You can enjoy these autumn leaves at Hiei no Momiji, an annual festival held in the Yokawa area.
Although the place is accessible by car, it is recommended to use a cable car to better enjoy the scenery. The cable car starts from Sakamoto Station, and is the longest in Japan. You can command the spectacular view of Lake Biwa that changes its aspect as you climb up the mountain.