Image search results - "nishi-arai" |
Belonging to the Shingon Sect's Buzan school, this is one of Tokyo's major temples. The real name is Sojiji (總持寺), but everyone calls it Nishi-Arai Daishi.The temple grounds feature many flowering trees and plants including an unusual species of cherry blossoms which bloom in winter. Daishi-mae Station. Much larger station than I expected. Probably for the New Year's crowds. 大師前駅
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Daishi-mae Station 大師前駅. Nishi-Arai Daishi Temple was said have been founded by Priest Kobo Daishi in 826. One of the Kanto Region's Big Three Daishi Temples.
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The main path to the temple is lined with the usual shops, but it is not aligned with the train station. The path from the train station takes a different route.
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Main path to temple
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Sanmon Gate, the main gate. 山門
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Sanmon Gate
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Food stalls lead you to the main worship hall.
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Dai-Hondo Hall, Nishi-Arai Daishi, Tokyo 大本堂According to legend, when prayers were offered to save villagers from an epidemic, pure water gushed out of a hitherto dried-up well and got rid of the plague. Since the well was on the west side of the temple hall, this area came to be called "Nishi-Arai" (New Well in the West). The temple is famous for warding off fire and misfortune.
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Incense burner
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Lantern
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Dai-Hondo Hall 大本堂
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Altar inside Dai-Hondo Hall 大本堂
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View from Dai-Hondo Hall
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms and Dai-Hondo Hall
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms, Nishi-Arai Daishi, Tokyo 寒桜
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜
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Ume plum blossoms
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Ume plum blossoms
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Ume plum blossoms
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White plum blossoms
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White plum blossoms 白梅
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White plum blossoms 白梅
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White plum blossoms 白梅
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Red plum blossoms
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In spring, see 4,500 peony plants in 70 varieties bloom. Temple is nicknamed "Botan Daishi" (Peony Daishi).
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Red plum blossoms
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Red plum blossoms and pagoda
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White plum blossoms
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Pond behind the Dai-Hondo Hall
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Waterfall
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Koi
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Benten-do 弁天堂
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如意輪堂
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如意輪堂
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Side view of Dai-Hondo
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Side view of Dai-Hondo
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13-story pagoda 十三大塔
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Chigo Daishi 稚児大師
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Chigo Daishi 稚児大師
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Three-story Treasure Pagoda 三重宝塔
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水子地蔵
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水子地蔵
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Salt Jizo 塩地蔵
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Salt Jizo 塩地蔵
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Rokkaku-do 六角堂
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水洗地蔵
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Temple bell and pond
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Koi
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Koi. Seems like a sumi painter just painted on this fish.
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A flea market is held monthly in the temple grounds.
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光明殿
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Hakkaku-do Hall 八角堂
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Inside Hakkaku-do Hall. A glass door lets you see inside, but the door is locked. 八角堂
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