From Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto’s Sanjo area, trains head to “Yase-Hieizanguchi Station” and “Kurama Station.” The first line to open was the one to Yase-Hieizanguchi Station, known as the Eizan Main Line. Later, the Kurama Line was created by branching off from the Eizan Main Line at Takaragaike to reach Kurama Station. Together, these are called Eizan Electric Railway (commonly referred to as Eizan Railway). Spring offers cherry blossoms, summer showcases lush greenery, autumn boasts vibrant foliage, and winter reveals snowy landscapes—this is a place where Japan’s four seasons can be thoroughly enjoyed. Especially in this season, both the Eizan Main Line and the Kurama Line offer spectacular views of autumn leaves.
Today, I visited Rurikoin Temple, a hidden gem for autumn foliage enthusiasts. Situated at the foot of Mount Hiei and at the entrance of Yase, a valley along the Koya River with views of the Wakatan mountain range to the west, this temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu sect. The name “Ruri” (lapis lazuli) refers to one of the seven treasures that adorn the Pure Land of Paradise and represents the sacred blue of the Pure Land. The main garden, covered in layers of moss and surrounded by dense maple trees with a pure spring bubbling up, radiates a brilliance resembling the hue of lapis lazuli, which is how the temple got its name, “Rurikoin.”
Rurikoin is a branch of Muryojuzan Komyoji Temple in Gifu Prefecture and was originally designed as a villa. It began as a retreat for Gentarou Tanaka, the founder of Kyoto Electric Light (the predecessor of Eizan Electric Railway), and was initially named “Kikakutei” by Sanjo Sanetomi. During the Taisho and Showa periods, the current buildings and gardens were developed on its 12,000-tsubo (approximately 40,000-square-meter) grounds. The shoin (study hall), built in the refined sukiya style, was designed by the renowned Kyoto sukiya architect Sotoji Nakamura.
One of the most popular spots within Rurikoin is the second floor of the shoin, where the Ruri Garden reflects on the desks and floors. The natural light gently filters into the room, and the sight of the autumn leaves mirrored on the lacquered desks—the so-called “upside-down maples”—creates a fantastical beauty, as if one is being drawn into a world inside a mirror.

京都三条の出町柳駅からは「八瀬比叡山口駅」行きと「鞍馬駅」行きが出ています。最初に開通したのが「八瀬比叡山口駅」行きで、この線を叡山本線と言います。後に叡山本線の「宝ヶ池」から分岐して「鞍馬駅」行きの鞍馬線ができます。併せて叡山電鉄（通称叡山電車）と呼びます。春は桜、夏は緑樹、秋は紅葉、冬は雪景色と、日本の四季をここだけで満喫できる風景が広がっています。中でも今の季節、叡山本線に乗っても鞍馬線に乗っても最高の紅葉が楽しめます。
今日訪ねた瑠璃光院は知る人ぞ知る紅葉の隠れ名所です。比叡山の麓に位置し、西に若丹山地を望む高野川沿いの渓谷に位置する八瀬の入り口にある浄土真宗の寺院です。瑠璃とは、極楽浄土を飾る七宝の一つである浄土の色。種々の楓が繁茂する深山の地に、幾重もの苔に覆われ清らかな泉が湧く、その主庭全体がまさに瑠璃色に輝かんとする様子から「瑠璃光院」という寺号がつけられました。
瑠璃光院は、岐阜県にある浄土真宗 無量寿山光明寺の支院で、もともとは別荘として設計されました。叡山電鉄の前身である「京都電燈」の創業者、田中源太郎の庵として始まり、三条実美によって当初「喜鶴亭」と名付けられました。1万2000坪の敷地に大正から昭和にかけて現在の建物と庭園が整備され、数寄屋造りの書院は京数寄屋造りの名人と称される中村外二によって造営されました。
瑠璃光院の中でも最も人気のスポットである書院2階からは、瑠璃の庭が書院の机や床にリフレクションする様子が一望できます。自然光が室内に柔らかく差し込み、秋の紅葉が漆塗りの机に映し出される逆さ紅葉は、まるで鏡の中に吸い込まれてしまうような幻想的な美しさです。

Rows of Kidachi Aloe blooming with red flowers are lined up. The chirping of birds, “chee-chee,” can be heard, and when I look closely, I see a Japanese white-eye (Mejiro). They’re commonly seen in spring when plum blossoms are blooming, but I never imagined they would be attracted to aloe. When I searched online, I found many similar stories shared, which surprised me. Japanese white-eyes are known to favor the nectar of plums, as well as peaches and camellias, so the nectar of aloe flowers must also be sweet.
It is said that there are over 300 species of aloe worldwide, but in Japan, Kidachi Aloe and Aloe Vera are the most popular, with a few other varieties known for ornamental purposes. Kidachi Aloe is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Kamakura period, making it a plant with a long history.
Aloe has been used medicinally since ancient times, even before the Common Era. In Egypt, it was highly valued as the “plant of immortality,” which is likely how it made its way to Japan. Research on aloe continues today, and it has been discovered that the bitter compound known as aloin has benefits such as promoting digestive health and relieving constipation. Additionally, aloe is said to have moisturizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful as a topical treatment for wounds, burns, and insect bites. This is why it’s often called the “doctor in a pot.”
While aloe is widely used for medicinal purposes, it is also said that the famous Cleopatra used aloe as a facial toner to maintain her youthful beauty.
Aloe Vera is also familiar as an ingredient in yogurt or as a garnish for sashimi. Furthermore, due to its high moisturizing effects, it is often used as a cosmetic ingredient.

赤い花を咲かせたキダチアロエがずらりと並んでいます。チーチーと鳥の囀りが聞こえますのでよく見ると、メジロです。春、梅の咲くころにはよく見かけますが、アロエにメジロなんて考えてもいませんでした。ウェブサイトで調べてみたら、同じような体験談が結構載っているんですね。驚きました。メジロが好むのは梅のほかに、モモやヤブツバキといった甘い蜜が好きですから、アロエの花も密が甘いのでしょう。
アロエは世界には３００種類以上もあるそうですが、日本ではこのキダチアロエとアロエベラが最もポピュラーで、後は観賞用に数種類が知られています。キダチアロエは鎌倉時代頃に伝来したといいますから、ずいぶん歴史のある植物です。
アロエは遥か昔、紀元前の頃から薬用として用いられ、エジプトでは「不滅の植物」として重用されていたそうですから、それが日本伝来の由来でしょう。現在もアロエについての研究は続いており、苦味の元となるアイロンという成分には健胃作用や便秘解消などの働きがあることがわかっています。またアロエには保湿や抗菌、消炎効果があるとされており、傷や火傷、虫さされの外用薬としても用いられます。「医者いらず」と言われる所以です。
薬用として重用される一方、かの有名なクレオパトラは若さを美貌を保つためにアロエを化粧水として愛用していたといわれています。
アロエ・ベラは、ヨーグルトや刺身としても馴染みがあります。また、保湿効果が高いので化粧品の原料として使われることもあります。