 Most viewed - Hiraizumi 平泉町 |
About the Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. 梵鐘611 views
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Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. Nice building for the bell. 梵鐘582 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall worships Yakushi Nyorai. 峯薬師堂569 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.169 views
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Suhama Beach is a peninsular beach at Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.151 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.149 views
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The Golden Hall is indeed gold and beautiful. It's not that big and looks brand new, thanks to restoration work. The gold leaf gleams and shell inlays in the columns are intricate.148 views
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Chusonji's Hondo main hall in Hiraizumi. It was last rebuilt in 1909. Its main object of worship is Amida Nyorai (the Buddha of Infinite Light), flanked by Chūsonji's eternal flames which came from Enryakuji in Shiga Prefecture. 142 views
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Altar inside Chusonji's Hondo main hall.142 views
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Chusonji's Hondo main hall, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.138 views
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Inside Motsuji's Hondo main hall. It worships Yakushi, flanked by two Boddhisatvas, Nikko ("Daylight") and Gakko ("Moonlight").125 views
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Weeping cherries and Motsuji's Hondo hall in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.124 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.121 views
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Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2011, announced soon after the March 11, 2011 Tohoku disaster.116 views
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Rental bicycles near Chusonji.114 views
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Great dance. Enjoyed it very much. Be sure to see my video.113 views
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111 views
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101 views
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101 views
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97 views
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Inside Benkei Hall.96 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall worships the 15 male attendants (jugo-doji) who serve the Ugajin deity associated with the goddess Benzaiten. 辨財天堂 辨財天十五童子96 views
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This is the Konjikido Hall building you always see in tourist literature. Doesn't look so impressive as a National Treasure. What you see is only the protective housing for the actual Konjikido Golden Hall sheltered inside.96 views
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96 views
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The temples of Hiraizumi are near JR Hiraizumi Station on the Tohoku Line. Hiraizumi is a short train ride from Ichinoseki Station, a shinkansen station.95 views
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95 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall. Chusonji has a number of smaller halls of worship. 峯薬師堂94 views
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Former housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. This building sheltered the Konjikido from 旧覆堂94 views
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While walking back and passing by the Hondo main hall, I found this group dancing in front of the Hondo hall.94 views
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94 views
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Benkei Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.93 views
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Statues inside Benkei-do Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.93 views
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Cherry tree near Chusonji's Hondo main hall.93 views
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Benkei Hall.92 views
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Statue of Benkei in the corner.92 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵92 views
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Taiko drum dance by eight men dressed as fierce-looking deer-lion with tall antlers and a mane.92 views
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92 views
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Hiraizumi's two main attractions are Chusonji temple (famous for Konjikido Hall covered with gold leaf) and Motsuji temple's garden.91 views
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Once you arrive at Hiraizumi, the best way to get around is by bicycle. There are a few bicycle rental places near the station. Mail box at Hiraizumi Station.91 views
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When I arrived on May 2, 2012, this dance troupe danced in front of Hiraizumi Station. The train station has a nice tourist information office where you can pick up maps and pamphlets and directions to bicycle rentals.91 views
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They were so good that I delayed my departure from the train station to watch this.91 views
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The Konjikido is inside this building sheltering it. They let you into the building one group at a time. There's a short recorded talk about the Konjikido, then you are ushered out of the building to make room for the next group.91 views
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Inside the former housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. The Konjikido was housed here until 1963 when the present housing was built. 旧覆堂91 views
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I parked my rental bicycle near this entrance to Chusonji temple grounds.90 views
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Cherry blossoms at a scenic lookout deck.90 views
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Gate to Chusonji's Hondo main hall.90 views
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Konjikido Golden Hall admission is 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for high schoolers, 300 yen for junior high schoolers, and 200 yen for elementary school kids.90 views
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Near the Konjikido is the Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵90 views
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89 views
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A slight sloping path going to Chusonji temple. It's a nice wooded path.89 views
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Along the way was this Benkei Hall and a fallen torii.89 views
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From the lookout point are a few cherry blossoms.89 views
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Poem monument for Saigyo (1118-1190), a famous Japanese poet who traveled in the Tohoku area a lot.89 views
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Incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.89 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂89 views
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Photography of the Konjikido is not allowed, but you can see photos of it at Chusonji's Web site here.. Konjikido is fenced off.89 views
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Ticket gate to enter Konjikido Golden Hall.89 views
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Statue of Haiku poet Basho at Chusonji temple.89 views
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My video of the antlered deer dancers at Chusonji.89 views
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Chusonji is the Tohoku headquarters temple for the Tendai Buddhist sect. About 800 meters to Konjikido Hall.88 views
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88 views
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About Benkei Hall.88 views
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88 views
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Water fountain88 views
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Chusonji's temple bell.88 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂 辨財天十五童子88 views
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Roots88 views
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88 views
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Entrance to the grounds of Chusonji temple. Chusonji belongs to the Tendai Buddhist sect and was founded in 850 by Ennin, a high-ranking priest of Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture.87 views
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87 views
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Eastern Lookout deck along the way to Chusonji.87 views
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Continuing on the path to Chusonji's Hondo main hall. The main path to Chūson-ji is called Tsukimizaka (Moon Viewing Slope). It is lined with cryptomeria trees planted three or four centuries ago by the Date clan of Sendai.87 views
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87 views
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Another scenic lookout point.87 views
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87 views
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Placing incense into the incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.87 views
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87 views
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The paper lantern at the entrance of Chusonji's main hall says that it is Tendai Sect's Tohoku Headquarters Temple (Tohoku Dai-honzan).87 views
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Fudo-do Hall, a prayer training hall. Worships Fudo-myoo. 不動堂87 views
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About the Benzaiten-do Hall.87 views
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Up to this point, visiting Chusonji is free. But when you want to see the Konjikido Golden Hall (National Treasure), that's when you have to pay admission.87 views
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To see the Konjikido Hall, pay admission here at the Sankozo Museum. Admission includes entry to the Golden Hall as well as to Sankozo Museum filled with Chūson-ji's various treasures and cultural objects.87 views
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The admission fee includes admission to Konjikido Hall, Sankozo Museum, Sutra Repository, and the Former Konjikidō Shelter Hall.87 views
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Consequently, the Golden Hall at Chūson-ji was built by the Fujiwara Family to recreate the western paradise of Amida on earth.87 views
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Monument for haiku poet Basho.87 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. Important Cultural Property. 経蔵87 views
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The dance is called Gyozan-ryu Tsunogake Shishi Odori or Gyozan School Antlered Deer Dance. They sing in Buddhist tones. They perform here annually on May 2.87 views
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Jizo statue and Chusonji stone sign.86 views
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86 views
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On to Konjikido, 240 meters away.86 views
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Chusonji's fire dept.86 views
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Path to Konjikido Hall, the main attraction of Chusonji temple. 金色堂86 views
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According to an ancient Buddhist prophecy, the world would enter a period of decline called Mappō in 1051. The Tendai sect believed that enlightenment was possible during Mappo only through the veneration of Amida Buddha. 86 views
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I went during Golden Week so there was a good number of people, but it wasn't horrendously crowded.86 views
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About the old housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. 旧覆堂86 views
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Path to Hakusan Shrine.86 views
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86 views
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86 views
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86 views
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85 views
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85 views
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Haiku poet Basho Monument for his Oku-no-Hosomichi series.85 views
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Chusonji votive tablets.85 views
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Chusonji was first built in the early twelfth century by the first Ōshū Fujiwara lord, Kiyohira. It became a huge temple complex, but most structures were destroyed by fire in 1337. The famous Golden Hall remains.84 views
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The 3/11 earthquake fell this torii at Benkei Hall.84 views
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84 views
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84 views
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84 views
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About the Kyozo Sutra Repository.83 views
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Since most of the temple structures burnt down, the main attraction today is the 800-year-old Pure Land Garden featuring a large pond called Oizumi ga Ike.68 views
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About the haiku poem by Basho.68 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.68 views
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68 views
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Motsuji temple is part of the "Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi" World Heritage Site. It belongs to the Tendai Buddhist sect. This is the gate to enter Motsuji temple. 67 views
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English translation of a Haiku poem by Basho, in reference to the temple buildings that were long gone when he visited.67 views
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About Motsuji's Hondo main hall. Nice to see English explanations.67 views
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67 views
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Incense burner66 views
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After you see the Hondo main hall, you basically walk around the garden's Oizumi ga Ike pond while seeing former temple sites and smaller buildings.66 views
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Jogyodo Hall, this building was built in 1732.66 views
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Jogyodo Hall worships Amida Buddha.66 views
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66 views
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66 views
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Rocks representing peninsular sea cliffs. One symbol of the garden.66 views
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65 views
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What Motsu-ji temple looked like before.65 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺65 views
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Site of the temple bell or befry.65 views
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About the Jizo Bosatsu statue.65 views
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Jogyodo Hall, Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi.65 views
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64 views
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The garden has been restored to its original condition.64 views
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64 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.64 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.64 views
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About the Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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Temple bell rebuilt in 1975.64 views
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Motsuji was founded in 850 by Ennin, the third abbot of Tendai based at Enryakuji temple atop Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture. This is their museum called Cultural Assets Repository.63 views
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Haiku poet Basho monument63 views
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63 views
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63 views
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About mountain-like formations.63 views
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Kaisando is the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin. 開山堂63 views
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Inside Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.63 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺63 views
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Site of Enryuji temple's Kondo hall at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 圓隆寺63 views
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Motsuji's Hondo hall on the right as seen from across the pond.63 views
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Jogyodo63 views
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About Jogyodo Hall.63 views
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About the new temple bell.63 views
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Irises donated by Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.62 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺62 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.62 views
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Jizo Bosatsu statue.62 views
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62 views
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Motsu-ji's Hondo main hall.61 views
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61 views
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About Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.61 views
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Site of Enryuji temple's Kondo hall at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. It's depressing to keep seeing these empty plots which used to have magnificent temple structures. 圓隆寺61 views
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About Suhama Beach61 views
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