Religious sects that deem Nichiren to be the real Buddha in the Mappo era criticize the current Japanese Tendai Sect asserting that it is close to the Shingon Sect because it has substantially incorporated the elements of Esoteric Buddhism and the teaching of Mt. Hiei was distorted by Ennin and Enchin because they incorporated Shingon Esoteric Buddhism after Saicho's death and against his will.
日蓮を末法の本仏とする宗派などは、現在の日本の天台宗は密教を大幅に取り入れているためむしろ真言宗に近く、最澄亡き後、その意向を無視した円仁・円珍などが真言密教を取り入れ比叡山を謗法化（正しい法を信じずそしること）したものだと批判する向きもある。