Onjo-ji Temple (Mii-dera)

Onjo-ji Temple (園城寺), more commonly known as Mii-dera, sits at the base of Mount Hiei and holds an important place in the history of Japanese Buddhism. As the head temple of the Tendaijimon sect, it reflects a long legacy connected to the Imperial Family and key political events of Japan’s early history. The temple’s name, meaning “Temple of the Three Wells,” refers to a sacred spring on the grounds where emperors Tenji, Tenmu, and Jitō were said to have taken their first baths. The same water later became central to the Sanbu Kanjo initiation ritual led by the influential monk Chishō Daishi, symbolizing spiritual purification and transmission. Visitors walking through the temple complex can admire sweeping verandas, wide corridors, and ornate halls that evoke the elegance of classical Japanese temple design.

Mii-dera has endured periods of destruction and revival, most notably during conflicts involving the warrior monks of neighboring Enryaku-ji. The temple was restored multiple times under the patronage of powerful historical figures such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and several of its halls and treasures are now designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The grounds are especially beautiful in spring when cherry blossoms frame the temple buildings, and in autumn when maple leaves create vivid pathways of red and gold. Quiet ponds, gentle slopes, and shaded walkways invite slow exploration, making Mii-dera a place where history, landscape, and spiritual tradition are felt with each step.