#NovemberDestinations2025 Take Japan's longest cable car up to Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei. As expected of a World Heritage Site, its aura is so powerful it makes you afraid to speak loudly! 🙏 The most breathtaking sight here is the "Eternal Lamp" in the Konnochudo Hall, said to have burned for 1200 years without ever going out. Just looking at that faint yet steadfast flame evokes a feeling that's hard to describe. Although the National Treasure Hall is currently undergoing a "century-long restoration," you can walk on a specially designed "skywalk" to see up close the details of the craftsmen repairing the roof—a rare perspective that only comes once every few decades! 🔨 Plus, the mountain is often shrouded in mist, with the red pagodas appearing and disappearing in the white fog, truly giving you the illusion of being in a celestial realm!
⸻
📝Hiezan Enryakuji Temple Visit & Avoidance Guide (A Must-Read for Featured Viewers!)
• 🔥 Must-See "Eternal Lamp": Inside the "Konkon Chūdō" (Inner Hall), those oil lamps have truly burned for 1200 years! A little-known fact: the idiom "oil burns out" (meaning negligence/carelessness) originates from this, because monks must take turns adding oil, and if it runs out, the temple is finished—a profound meaning!
• 🚧 Limited-Time "Study Stage": Although the Konkon Chūdō is under renovation (expected to be completed by 2027), don't let that prevent you from going in! A special "Study Stage" has been set up, allowing you to see the roof structure and Buddha statues up close, at eye level with the National Treasure—even more precious than after the renovation!
• 🚠 Choose the Right Ropeway: There are two ways to ascend Mount Hiei:
1. Kyoto Side (Eizan Ropeway): Departs from Kyoto, offering views of the Kyoto Basin.
2. Shiga Side (Sakamoto Ropeway): Take the ropeway from the Lake Biwa side. This is Japan's longest ropeway, offering panoramic views of the entire lake – the scenery is even more spectacular! A friend who just visited Lake Biwa recommended this route.
• 🔔 Good Fortune Bell: The "Good Fortune Bell" in front of the Honne-no-Tō (main hall) is open to visitors (for a fee). The resounding bell echoes through the valley, seemingly shattering all your worries – a must-try!
• 🗺️ Area Guide: Enryaku-ji Temple is huge, divided into three areas: the East Pagoda, the West Pagoda, and the Yokogawa (Yokokawa River). If you're short on time, just visit the core "East Pagoda" area. The other two areas are too far and require shuttle buses; you won't be able to see them all in half a day.
This mountain is truly legendary. If you want to experience the millennia-old tradition of incense offerings and see the limited-time restoration of national treasures, you absolutely can't miss it! 🔥🚠⛩️
