 Most viewed - Aisho 愛荘町 |
Crane design in temari628 views
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It makes you wonder how they fit the temari threaded ball into the round glass bottle.455 views
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Some balls have tassels.440 views
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Bin-temari in Echigawa, Shiga. Echigawa's bin-temari history goes back to around 1840 when its oldest bin-temari was made. However, this traditional art died out with the death of Aoki Hiro in 1973, Echigawa's last bin-temari maker.420 views
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Bin-temari monument. "Bin" means bottle, and "temari" is a threaded ball. The bin-temari is a round glass ball with a threaded ball inside.419 views
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Kongorinji's Main temple roof drowning in fall leaves414 views
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Bin-temari come in different sizes and an infinite number of threaded-ball designs. It also makes a great wedding gift since the round shape symbolizes harmony of the heart and family. You can also clearly see inside. 中がよく（仲良く）見える395 views
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The ball is actually hollow like a balloon. It is inserted into the bottle in a deflated state, then expanded into a ball. The museum also has a fascinating video showing how temari is made.393 views
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Temari manhole cover in Aisho, Shiga350 views
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On display are temari balls from other parts of Japan.315 views
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Well-known bin-temari maker.305 views
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After Aoki's death, a temari preservation society was formed and the craft was passed on based on Aoki's husband's memory of how his wife made it. Besides Echigawa, only a few other places in Japan still make bin-temari.301 views
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More yellow and red270 views
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Bin Temari no Yakata Museum exhibits temari threaded balls in round glass bottles. Temari is a symbol of Echigawa. Near Echigawa Station. Intersection in Echigawa with a bin-temari monument. Map263 views
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Kongorinji's Temple Hondo, a National Treasure in Aisho, Shiga.262 views
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Showcase full of bin-temari.261 views
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Temple Hondo, a National Treasure256 views
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Misaki Shrine Fire Festival in Aisho. The shrine has a 5-meter tall pile of bamboo which is lit to make a towering inferno within the shrine grounds. Very dramatic. Also see the video at YouTube.253 views
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Panel displays showing the history of Echigawa.242 views
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Beauitful leaves241 views
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Echigawa-juku was the sixty-sixth station or post town (shukuba) of the sixty-nine stations on the Nakasendo Road. It is the sixth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Takamiya-juku in Hikone), and one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga.239 viewsIn front of Echigawa Station, a sign point the way to Echigawa-juku (go right).
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Bin-temari mail box in front of Echigawa Station.239 views
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Manhole in Echigawa-juku, Shiga, with a temari (thread ball) design.229 views
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Finally we see a building217 views
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On Aug. 9, the Jizo statues are lit with candles.208 views
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Temple Hondo198 views
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On Aug. 9, the Jizo statues are lit with candles.196 views
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Temple bell192 views
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While traveling, St. Shinran was unable to cross the Echigawa River since there was a flood. So he stayed at this temple temporarily. During that time, he planted a plum tree which bloom red plum blossoms.192 views
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Entrance to the Echigawa Bin-temari Museum. Free admission.188 views
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3-story pagoda, reconstructed in 1978177 views
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Quilt from Echigawa's sister city of West Bend, Wisconsin.174 views
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Note: The following photos were taken years ago. More recent photos are at the beginning of this album. Kongorinji is a Tendai Buddhist temple established in 741 and the middle temple in the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio. 167 viewsThe main temple hall is a National Treasure housing an 11-faced Kannon statue and 13 other statues designated as Important Cultural Properties.
They come by the busloads. If possible, you should avoid visiting the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio and Eigenji during the weekend in fall. If possible, you should avoid visiting the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio and Eigenji during the weekend in fall.
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Heading south on the Nakasendo in Echigawa-juku.165 views
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Echigawa Bin-temari-no-Yakata or the Echigawa Bin-temari Museum. Open 10 am - 6 pm, closed Mon., Tue., last Wed. of the month, and national holidays. 7-min. walk from Echigawa Station. 愛知川びん手まりの館155 views
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Aerial photo of Echigawa.155 views
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3-story pagoda148 views
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Nakasendo Road in Shiga148 views
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The museum complex includes the Echigawa Public Library.148 views
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Kongorinji's main temple hall is a National Treasure housing an 11-faced Kannon statue and 13 other statues designated as Important Cultural Properties. Aisho, Shiga. 143 views
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Front gate. The temple was first built in 741 as ordered by Emperor Shomu. It later became a Tendai Buddhist temple in 850. It is famous for "blood-red" maple leaves in autumn. Map141 views
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Echigawa Fire Dept.139 views
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Held annually on May 4, the Misaki Shrine Fire Festival (hi-matsuri) has local people carry 2-meter long torches from their homes to the shrie where a 5-meter tall pile of bamboo is lit to make a towering inferno.138 viewsA taiko drum is also carried and beaten.
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Inside the courtyard of the Echigawa Bin-temari Museum.138 views
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In a small room in the library is Echigawa's sister city exhibit. Echigawa used to be a separate town before it merged with Aito to form Aisho town.138 views
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126 views
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"Blood-red" maples125 views
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Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station. The station building, named Ruburu Echigawa, has a tourist information counter and exhibition gallery.122 views
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Garden121 views
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More path foilage118 views
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Entrance to Echigawa-juku at the northern end. Echigawa-juku was the sixty-sixth station or post town (shukuba) of the sixty-nine stations on the Nakasendo Road. Map118 views
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"Blood-red" maples117 views
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Sister city certificate for West Bend, Wisconsin, USA, in Echigawa Public Library.117 views
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Large intersection has an Echigawa-juku monument.111 views
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Toward the south end of Echigawa-juku. Bridge has a temari decoration.110 views
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From the city of West Bend, Wisconsin.110 views
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Pocket park in Echigawa-juku.109 views
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Garden108 views
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Inside 3-story pagoda106 views
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Nakasendo in Echigawa-juku105 views
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Temari decoration on bridge.105 views
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Foilage on the path103 views
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South end gate of Echigawa-juku.103 views
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102 views
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Garden102 views
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1000 Jizo statues. On Aug. 9, the Jizo statues are lit with candles.101 views
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Torii at Misaki Shrine Fire Festival.101 views
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Nice path with fall colors100 views
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This is a high-class ryotei restaurant called Omi Shonin-tei (近江商人亭). Built in the 1920s, it used to be an Omi Merchant's second home who sold hemp cloth.99 viewsThis is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed. The Natsume family's dojo scene.
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Garden at Kongorinji97 views
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It's all too beautiful96 views
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The ukiyoe print by Hiroshige shows a bridge across Echigawa River. It was toll-free (Muchin-bashi).95 views
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Traditional-style building95 views
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They come by the busloads. If possible, you should avoid visiting the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio and Eigenji during the weekend in fall. If possible, you should avoid visiting the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio and Eigenji during the weekend in fall. Stone marker.94 views
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More Jizo statues94 views
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Way to Homanji temple where St. Shinran once stayed.92 views
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Entering the path of little stone Jizo statues91 views
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On Aug. 9, the Jizo statues are lit with candles. Kongorinji temple in Aisho, Shiga.91 views
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Meiji Period-style mail box. It's a real mail box so you can deposit your mail here.91 views
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The street corner has a pocket park for an Echigawa-juku monument showing an ukiyoe print of the town. A stone marker also points the way to Takamiya-juku.91 views
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90 views
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90 views
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St. Shinran statue and plum tree.89 views
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88 views
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After the bon fire, the taiko drum procession leaves the shrine and parades around the village.87 views
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Takeheiro on the left, along the Nakasendo Road in Echigawa-juku, Shiga.87 views
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86 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Echigawa-juku (66th post town on the Nakasendo) from his Kisokaido series. On the left across the river is Mt. Kannonji (Kinugake).86 views
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Temple Hondo85 views
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Homanji temple Hondo hall in Echigawa-juku, Shiga. 宝満寺84 views
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Entrance to Takeheiro. It's not open to the public unless you want to dine there. 竹平楼84 views
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Gate to main hall. Tendai Buddhist temple established in 741 and the middle temple in the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio.83 views
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3-story pagoda83 views
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Statue of St. Shinran (1173-1263) in front of the plum tree which he planted. The temple also has a scroll written by Shinran.83 views
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The plum tree blooms in March.83 views
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Homanji Hondo83 views
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82 views
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And more leaves81 views
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Tour bus parking halfway up the mountain81 views
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Marker indicating that St. Shinran, founder of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Sect, once stayed at this temple.81 views
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Gate to Homanji temple.81 views
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Another famous building remaining in Echigawa-juku. This is the Takeheiro restaurant where Emperor Meiji once stayed.81 views
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View from Hondo hall.80 views
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Inside Homanji Hondo main hall in Echigawa-juku, Shiga Prefecture80 views
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3-story pagoda79 views
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On Aug. 9, the Jizo statues are lit with candles.78 views
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3-story pagoda77 views
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Procession of local residents carrying torches to the shrine. Map77 views
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Fire finally dies down.77 views
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Yellow and red76 views
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Shops along the Nakasendo76 views
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Taiko drum beating75 views
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Some modern buildings along the Nakasendo in Echigawa-juku75 views
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Hachiman Jinja Shrine, Echigawa-juku75 views
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Modern homes in Echigawa75 views
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The torch procession rings out.74 views
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74 views
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City logo74 views
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Towering inferno of bamboo on fire. The shrine has a 5-meter tall pile of bamboo which is lit to make a towering inferno within the shrine grounds. Very dramatic. 73 views
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Stone monument at Takeheiro indicating that Emperor Meiji was here.73 views
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72 views
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Looks like a former bank building.72 views
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Former Echi Town Hall built in 1922.72 views
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Omi Hemp Fabric Museum offer hands-on lessons to make small hemp fabric goods. Closed weekends and national holidays. 近江上布伝統産業会館72 views
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Lantern71 views
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Hachiman Jinja Shrine in Echigawa-juku, Shiga71 views
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Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station platform.71 views
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70 views
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Way to Hachiman Shrine.69 views
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The shrine has ties to Prince Shotoku Taishi who hid here from an enemy during a war. In appreciation, he donated rice paddies to the shrine.69 views
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68 views
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68 views
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Ohmi Railways train at Echigawa Station.68 views
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67 views
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Hachiman Jinja Shrine Honden main hall is a Shiga Prefecture Cultural Property.67 views
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Parallel to Echigawa Station is the elevated shinkansen tracks.65 views
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64 views
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Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station64 views
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Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station platform.63 views
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Former Echi Town Hall63 views
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Former Echi Town Hall63 views
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Shinkansen tracks and cycling path61 views
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Railway crossing58 views
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Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station platform.58 views
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Ohmi Railway track54 views
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Ohmi Railway track52 views
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Aisho, Shiga manhole47 views
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Path back to the main gate. Lots of eye candy.27 views
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26 views
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About Kongorinji's famous temple garden.25 views
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Steps to the Hondo main worship hall.25 views
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Kongorinji's three-story pagoda, National Important Cultural Property.25 views
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Another prime spot for autumn foliage at Kongorinji.25 views
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Autumn foliage near the Dojo. 25 views
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Aisho Town Museum.25 views
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Shuttle bus on the right going to the next Koto Sanzan Temple.25 views
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Kongorinji is a Tendai Buddhist temple established in 741 and the middle temple in the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio. The main temple hall is a National Treasure housing an 11-faced Kannon statue and 13 other statues designated as Important Cultural Properties.24 viewsThis is the Somon main gate to the temple. 総門
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Temple ticket admission booth. ¥500 拝観受付 24 views
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Priest's residence next to the famous garden. Reconstructed in 1978. 明寿院 24 views
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Garden of many Jizo statues.24 views
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Long path of Jizo statues, a trademark of Kongorinji Temple.24 views
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Built in 1288, Kongorinji Hondo main hall, National Treasure in autumn.24 views
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Kongorinji's three-story pagoda, National Important Cultural Property.24 views
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Kongorinji's three-story pagoda, National Important Cultural Property.24 views
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Small garden outside Aisho Town Museum.24 views
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Inside the Koto Sanzan shuttle bus from Kongorinji to Hyakusaiji. Quite full this day. 24 views
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Off-season, normally you take a taxi (15 min.) from JR Inae Station if you don't have a car. There's a regular taxi that leaves the station once an hour.23 views
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After the ticket admission booth, it's a delightful and colorful path to the temple.23 views
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The first building you see. Nishiya-do hall housing Amida Nyorai buddha. Built in the Edo Period. 西谷堂 阿弥陀如来23 views
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Inside Nishiya-do hall housing Amida Nyorai buddha. 西谷堂 阿弥陀如来23 views
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Nishiya-do hall housing Amida Nyorai buddha. Kongorinji Temple, Aisho, Shiga. 西谷堂 阿弥陀如来23 views
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Akamon Gate 赤門23 views
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Famous temple garden built in the Momoyama Period (16th c.) to Edo Period. The building is the Kongorinji priest's residence. 名勝庭園 本坊23 views
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Jizo-do Hall built in 1997. Believers can train here. 地蔵堂23 views
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Inside the Jizo-do Hall built in 1997. 地蔵堂23 views
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Hondo main hall23 views
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Kongorinji's main temple hall is a National Treasure housing an 11-faced Kannon statue and 13 other statues designated as Important Cultural Properties. Aisho, Shiga.23 views
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Kongorinji Hondo main hall, National Treasure amid autumn maple leaves.23 views
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Kongorinji's three-story pagoda built in 1246, National Important Cultural Property.23 views
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Aisho Town Museum.23 views
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Small garden outside Aisho Town Museum.23 views
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The temple was first built in 741 as ordered by Emperor Shomu. It later became a Tendai Buddhist temple in 850. It is famous for "blood-red" maple leaves in autumn.22 views
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Nishiya-do hall housing Amida Nyorai buddha. Built in the Edo Period. 西谷堂 阿弥陀如来22 views
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Priest's residence next to the famous garden. Reconstructed in 1978. 明寿院 22 views
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Inside the Jizo-do Hall built in 1997. 地蔵堂22 views
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From here, the path to the temple (main hall) is lined with 1,000 Jizo statues.22 views
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About the three-story pagoda, National Important Cultural Property.22 views
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Kongorinji's three-story pagoda, National Important Cultural Property amid maple leaves.22 views
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Kongorinji's three-story pagoda, National Important Cultural Property amid maple leaves.22 views
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Looks like red maples are raining on you. Just spectacular.22 views
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Very artistic looking autumn leaves.22 views
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Near Koongorinji's main gate is a parking lot and bus stop.22 views
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