Enryaku-ji (延暦寺) is a mountain temple on the outskirts of Kyoto. It was established in 788. Its role was to protect the capital of Kyoto by keeping away evil. It is a very important temple in Japan. At one time, there were 3,000 buildings and a few thousand people living on the on the grounds. The current buildings are set among gardens and cedar trees and connected by hiking trails. There is a cable car to take visitors to the temple at the top of the mountain, or you can get there by bus or hiking trail.