[2025 Saijo Attraction] Travel Guide for Nishiyama Koryuji (Updated Jul)

📍Nishiyama Koryuji Temple During the autumn foliage season, the temple is known as "Nishiyama Koryuji Temple of Maple Leaves" because of the stunning scenery that blends in with the surrounding mountains. In spring, the Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry trees bloom in full glory, and many photographers gather here during the autumn foliage and cherry blossom seasons. The temple also has many cultural assets, such as the main hall and bronze bell, and the historic building blends in with nature while exuding a dignified presence. The best time to see the autumn leaves at Nishiyama Koryuji Temple is from mid-November to early December. #Free hotel stay

It was autumn's welcome, That brought us to Ehime, To walk alongside the colors, In the great mountains, We found a secret haven, A path where locals go to pray, Climbing among ancient trees and old trails, A memory of nature's long years, Sunlight sifts through the leaves, Casting down on the leaf-strewn mountain path, The world is dyed in a gradient by the red leaves, As if colored in a manga, Filled with fantasy. Maple leaves and ginkgo are the protagonists of autumn, A red and yellow pair within the temple grounds. A Shiba Inu treads over the carpet of red leaves, Making a rustling sound with its steps, Perhaps this is the voice of nature itself～ 📍Saizenji Temple in the western mountains of Ehime This is a very niche spot we discovered this time, very close to Imabari where we disembarked. It happened to be deep autumn, and the colors in the mountains were enriched, so we decided to come here to experience it. The Saizenji Temple in the western mountains is deep in the mountains, and it takes 20-30 minutes to drive there from the city, making it a very secluded and niche place. Only upon arrival did we realize how truly beautiful it is, like a fairyland. 🌟Highlights: 1⃣️Self-service vegetable hut At the entrance to the mountains, there's a local's hut with lots of vegetables and fruits, all clearly priced, likely homegrown, so very affordable, like 200 yen for a big bag of persimmons. Hikers usually take some on their way down, just leave the money in the box, very Japanese~ 2⃣️Monks If one wishes to experience the meaning of ascetic practice, you can rent clothes here, so it's common to capture 'monks' climbing the mountain for training. However, it's impolite to take photos directly. This is a beautiful scene at Saizenji Temple. 3⃣️Mountain trails The secret paths through the ancient forest wind upwards, offering many scenic spots for photography along the way. 4⃣️Temples on the mountain Upon reaching the temple, there's still a climb, flanked by red leaves, making it a particularly photogenic spot, as if it's a path of devotion. 5⃣️Surroundings of the temple The temple is enveloped by red leaves and ginkgo, find the right angle and you can capture the feeling of a world bathed in red, along with the Japanese-style architecture, very charming~

The original plan to see the red leaves in the deep mountain valley of Oda has already fallen, so we decided to go to Xishan Xinglong Temple temporarily. Climbing up the steps, we saw two climbers wearing straw hats and robes, we followed their footsteps, as if we could discover the secrets of Xinglong Temple with them. The mountain is not high or low, the weather is not cold or hot, and hiking is very comfortable. We came a few days late, a few days ago the maple leaves were red half the sky, today the fallen leaves are all over the river. This is a very niche maple viewing place, no tourists, only a few locals, like climbing a small mountain near their own home, walking around casually, feeling happy and relaxed. We also saw a unmanned shop on the way (Figure 9), a large bag of persimmons for 500 yen (about 25 yuan), grown by local farmers, fresh and delicious, you can feel the simple and kind folk customs. Although we missed the best maple viewing season, the transparent autumn color here still surprised us. We saw the red maple hidden in the corner of the temple, the ginkgo with golden glow, the graceful tree shadows projected on the walls and stone steps, the flowers and leaves scattered all over the courtyard, the starlight shot out between the eaves and the tree gaps, and the cute Akita dog... All these made me start to understand the beauty of the deep autumn. There is no need to flock to Tokyo or Kyoto to see the red leaves, the red leaves here are not inferior, because fewer people have a better experience. The way home is long and short, the long is the distance, the short is the mood. The five-day and four-night trip to Ehime is over, and I can finally go home. On the first day of each trip, I would say: This trip is so long, it's endless! On the last day, I would say: Is it over? It's too fast, I'm still not satisfied! Especially this trip to Ehime, I can feel the civilization and prosperity of the modern city, and also experience the tranquility and beauty of the countryside. I made a family travel plan, with my wife and two children, to come to Ehime again at the turn of autumn and winter next year, ride a bicycle through the Seto Inland Sea along the island wave road, take a tide-watching boat to enjoy the whirlpool of the Kaido Strait, climb the Matsuyama Castle of the Edo period to overlook the beautiful scenery of the whole city, wait for a beautiful sunset at the nearest station to the sea in the world (Shimotani Station), go to Xishan Xinglong Temple to enjoy the last autumn color, and Ehime orange, sea bream rice... The trip to Ehime is a trip that makes you fall in love with Ehime.