 Most viewed - IWATE 岩手県 |
About the Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. 梵鐘598 views
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Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. Nice building for the bell. 梵鐘570 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall worships Yakushi Nyorai. 峯薬師堂554 views
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Jodogahama literally means Paradise Beach.444 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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Dramatic rock formations.432 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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Kamaishi Dai-Kannon. She holds a fish.357 views
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Jodogahama, Iwate Pref.336 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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Jodogahama sign. Part of the Rikuchu-Kaigan National Park.278 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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View of bay, Kamaishi, Iwate257 views
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Giant Kannon statue in the distance.201 views
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Not a sandy beach, but still popular in summer.197 views
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175 views
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JR Kamaishi Station167 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.138 views
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View of Kamaishi Port which was devastated by the tsunami in March 2011.136 views
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View of bay135 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.132 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. 128 views
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Chusonji's Hondo main hall, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.127 views
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Altar inside Chusonji's Hondo main hall.127 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.123 views
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Suhama Beach is a peninsular beach at Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.123 views
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Inside Motsuji's Hondo main hall. It worships Yakushi, flanked by two Boddhisatvas, Nikko ("Daylight") and Gakko ("Moonlight").121 views
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Weeping cherries and Motsuji's Hondo hall in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.119 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.117 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.104 views
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Rental bicycles near Chusonji.101 views
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100 views
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Great dance. Enjoyed it very much. Be sure to see my video.99 views
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88 views
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85 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83 views
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83 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.82 views
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82 views
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81 views
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Cherry tree near Chusonji's Hondo main hall.81 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall. Chusonji has a number of smaller halls of worship. 峯薬師堂81 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵81 views
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Inside Benkei Hall.80 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.80 views
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Taiko drum dance by eight men dressed as fierce-looking deer-lion with tall antlers and a mane.80 views
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80 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.79 views
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Former housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. This building sheltered the Konjikido from 旧覆堂79 views
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79 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.78 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.78 views
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Benkei Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.78 views
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Statue of Benkei in the corner.78 views
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Statues inside Benkei-do Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.78 views
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Near the Konjikido is the Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵78 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78 views
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They were so good that I delayed my departure from the train station to watch this.77 views
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Benkei Hall.77 views
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Gate to Chusonji's Hondo main hall.77 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂 辨財天十五童子77 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.77 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.76 views
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A slight sloping path going to Chusonji temple. It's a nice wooded path.76 views
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About Benkei Hall.76 views
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76 views
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76 views
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About the Benzaiten-do Hall.76 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.76 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.76 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 2.76 views
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75 views
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I parked my rental bicycle near this entrance to Chusonji temple grounds.75 views
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Chusonji is the Tohoku headquarters temple for the Tendai Buddhist sect. About 800 meters to Konjikido Hall.75 views
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75 views
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Roots75 views
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About the old housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. 旧覆堂75 views
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My video of the antlered deer dancers at Chusonji.75 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.74 views
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Along the way was this Benkei Hall and a fallen torii.74 views
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74 views
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Eastern Lookout deck along the way to Chusonji.74 views
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From the lookout point are a few cherry blossoms.74 views
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Cherry blossoms at a scenic lookout deck.74 views
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Incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.74 views
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Chusonji's temple bell.74 views
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On to Konjikido, 240 meters away.74 views
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Fudo-do Hall, a prayer training hall. Worships Fudo-myoo. 不動堂74 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂74 views
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The admission fee includes admission to Konjikido Hall, Sankozo Museum, Sutra Repository, and the Former Konjikidō Shelter Hall.74 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. 74 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. Important Cultural Property. 経蔵74 views
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Statue of Haiku poet Basho at Chusonji temple.74 views
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Path to Hakusan Shrine.74 views
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74 views
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73 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.73 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.73 views
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73 views
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Another scenic lookout point.73 views
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Placing incense into the incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.73 views
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Water fountain73 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).73 views
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73 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.73 views
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Ticket gate to enter Konjikido Golden Hall.73 views
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Monument for haiku poet Basho.73 views
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Poem monument for Saigyo (1118-1190), a famous Japanese poet who traveled in the Tohoku area a lot.72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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Chusonji's fire dept.72 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.72 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.72 views
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Path to Konjikido Hall, the main attraction of Chusonji temple. 金色堂72 views
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I went during Golden Week so there was a good number of people, but it wasn't horrendously crowded.72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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Jizo statue and Chusonji stone sign.71 views
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The 3/11 earthquake fell this torii at Benkei Hall.71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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About the Kyozo Sutra Repository.71 views
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Haiku poet Basho Monument for his Oku-no-Hosomichi series.71 views
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Chusonji votive tablets.71 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.66 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.64 views
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About the haiku poem by Basho.64 views
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64 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. 63 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.63 views
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Incense burner63 views
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About Motsuji's Hondo main hall. Nice to see English explanations.63 views
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63 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.63 views
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Jogyodo Hall, this building was built in 1732.63 views
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Jogyodo Hall worships Amida Buddha.63 views
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62 views
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What Motsu-ji temple looked like before.62 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺62 views
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Site of the temple bell or befry.62 views
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About the Jizo Bosatsu statue.62 views
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61 views
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Site of Enryuji temple's Kondo hall at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 圓隆寺61 views
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About the Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.61 views
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Jogyodo Hall, Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi.61 views
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About Jogyodo Hall.61 views
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61 views
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61 views
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Temple bell rebuilt in 1975.61 views
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61 views
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Haiku poet Basho monument60 views
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The garden has been restored to its original condition.60 views
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About mountain-like formations.60 views
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Inside Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.60 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺60 views
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Rocks representing peninsular sea cliffs. One symbol of the garden.60 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.59 views
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59 views
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59 views
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Irises donated by Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.59 views
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Kaisando is the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin. 開山堂59 views
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59 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺59 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.59 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.59 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.59 views
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Motsuji's Hondo hall on the right as seen from across the pond.59 views
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Jogyodo59 views
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59 views
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59 views
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About the new temple bell.59 views
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59 views
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Motsu-ji's Hondo main hall.58 views
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58 views
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About Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.58 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58 views
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Jizo Bosatsu statue.58 views
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About Suhama Beach58 views
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