Takao Shingoji Temple

Jingo-ji temple occupies a heavily forested ridge at Takao, northwest of central Kyoto, and Kotozuka returned to it repeatedly across his career. This composition likely presents the stone stairway ascending through the cedar and maple canopy toward the temple precinct, with architectural elements — a roofed gate or the main hall — anchoring the upper register. Kotozuka's handling of deep forest shadow against lighter sky exploits the full tonal range available through graduated [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) printing. The Takao area was one of the most celebrated autumn-foliage destinations in the Kinai region, and this impression belongs to a series of variants the artist produced of the same subject with differing seasonal light and colorway. The print is in [oban](/glossary/oban) format, consistent with Kotozuka's self-published landscape output from his Kyoto studio.