Learning about medicinal plants from a nun in Mt. Hiei, Kyoto

Interestingly, traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely linked with Bhuddhism in Japan, as well as other Asian countries.

Ikenotani medicinal plants garden is located at a foot of Mt. Daimonji, famous for its five mountains bonfire, and taken care by Ikenotani jizo son (jizo is also called Ksitigarbha, bodhisattva who looks over children), the temple is also called "yakuso (medicinal plant in Japanese) temple" as there is a medicinal plants garden.

When I visit there, a num was explaining about these plants.

Until modern time, monks played important role of doctors. 

Selected monks, especially zen monks learned traditional medicine from  China, and helping others was considered as a part of their duty.

water flow source of the mother river kamogawa, and yodogawa, which flows into Osaka bay.