 Most viewed - IWATE 岩手県
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About the Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. 梵鐘588 views
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Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. Nice building for the bell. 梵鐘562 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall worships Yakushi Nyorai. 峯薬師堂546 views
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Jodogahama literally means Paradise Beach.424 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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Dramatic rock formations.412 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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Kamaishi Dai-Kannon. She holds a fish.341 views
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Jodogahama, Iwate Pref.321 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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Jodogahama sign. Part of the Rikuchu-Kaigan National Park.263 viewsRikuchu-Kaigan National Park, Iwate Pref.
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View of bay, Kamaishi, Iwate243 views
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Giant Kannon statue in the distance.190 views
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Not a sandy beach, but still popular in summer.187 views
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165 views
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JR Kamaishi Station157 views
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View of Kamaishi Port which was devastated by the tsunami in March 2011.127 views
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View of bay126 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.116 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. 115 views
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Altar inside Chusonji's Hondo main hall.114 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.114 views
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Chusonji's Hondo main hall, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.113 views
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Inside Motsuji's Hondo main hall. It worships Yakushi, flanked by two Boddhisatvas, Nikko ("Daylight") and Gakko ("Moonlight").107 views
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Weeping cherries and Motsuji's Hondo hall in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.105 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.104 views
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Suhama Beach is a peninsular beach at Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.104 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.103 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.96 views
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Rental bicycles near Chusonji.94 views
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92 views
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Great dance. Enjoyed it very much. Be sure to see my video.92 views
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80 views
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75 views
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75 views
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74 views
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Cherry tree near Chusonji's Hondo main hall.74 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall. Chusonji has a number of smaller halls of worship. 峯薬師堂74 views
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74 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.73 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.72 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72 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵72 views
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Former housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. This building sheltered the Konjikido from 旧覆堂72 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.72 views
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Taiko drum dance by eight men dressed as fierce-looking deer-lion with tall antlers and a mane.72 views
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72 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.71 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.71 views
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Inside Benkei Hall.71 views
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71 views
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They were so good that I delayed my departure from the train station to watch this.70 views
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Benkei Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.70 views
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Benkei Hall.70 views
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Statue of Benkei in the corner.70 views
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Statues inside Benkei-do Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.70 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.69 views
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About Benkei Hall.69 views
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Gate to Chusonji's Hondo main hall.69 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.69 views
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68 views
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I parked my rental bicycle near this entrance to Chusonji temple grounds.68 views
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68 views
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68 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.68 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.68 views
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Chusonji is the Tohoku headquarters temple for the Tendai Buddhist sect. About 800 meters to Konjikido Hall.67 views
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A slight sloping path going to Chusonji temple. It's a nice wooded path.67 views
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Along the way was this Benkei Hall and a fallen torii.67 views
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Eastern Lookout deck along the way to Chusonji.67 views
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From the lookout point are a few cherry blossoms.67 views
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On to Konjikido, 240 meters away.67 views
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Fudo-do Hall, a prayer training hall. Worships Fudo-myoo. 不動堂67 views
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Near the Konjikido is the Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵67 views
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About the old housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. 旧覆堂67 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 2.67 views
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My video of the antlered deer dancers at Chusonji.67 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.66 views
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66 views
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66 views
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Cherry blossoms at a scenic lookout deck.66 views
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Incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.66 views
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Placing incense into the incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.66 views
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Water fountain66 views
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Chusonji's temple bell.66 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂 辨財天十五童子66 views
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About the Benzaiten-do Hall.66 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. 66 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. Important Cultural Property. 経蔵66 views
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Roots66 views
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Statue of Haiku poet Basho at Chusonji temple.66 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66 views
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65 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.65 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.65 views
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65 views
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Poem monument for Saigyo (1118-1190), a famous Japanese poet who traveled in the Tohoku area a lot.65 views
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Another scenic lookout point.65 views
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65 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).65 views
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65 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.65 views
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Ticket gate to enter Konjikido Golden Hall.65 views
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Monument for haiku poet Basho.65 views
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Path to Hakusan Shrine.65 views
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65 views
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Jizo statue and Chusonji stone sign.64 views
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The 3/11 earthquake fell this torii at Benkei Hall.64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂64 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.64 views
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The admission fee includes admission to Konjikido Hall, Sankozo Museum, Sutra Repository, and the Former Konjikidō Shelter Hall.64 views
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I went during Golden Week so there was a good number of people, but it wasn't horrendously crowded.64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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63 views
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Chusonji's fire dept.63 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.63 views
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Path to Konjikido Hall, the main attraction of Chusonji temple. 金色堂63 views
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About the Kyozo Sutra Repository.63 views
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Haiku poet Basho Monument for his Oku-no-Hosomichi series.63 views
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Chusonji votive tablets.63 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.58 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.56 views
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About the haiku poem by Basho.56 views
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56 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. 55 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.55 views
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55 views
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Incense burner55 views
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About Motsuji's Hondo main hall. Nice to see English explanations.55 views
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55 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.55 views
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Jogyodo Hall, this building was built in 1732.55 views
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Jogyodo Hall worships Amida Buddha.55 views
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What Motsu-ji temple looked like before.54 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺54 views
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About the Jizo Bosatsu statue.54 views
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Haiku poet Basho monument53 views
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53 views
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Site of Enryuji temple's Kondo hall at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 圓隆寺53 views
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About the Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.53 views
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Site of the temple bell or befry.53 views
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Jogyodo Hall, Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi.53 views
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About Jogyodo Hall.53 views
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53 views
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53 views
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Temple bell rebuilt in 1975.53 views
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53 views
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The garden has been restored to its original condition.52 views
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About mountain-like formations.52 views
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Inside Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.52 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺52 views
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About the new temple bell.52 views
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Rocks representing peninsular sea cliffs. One symbol of the garden.52 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.51 views
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51 views
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51 views
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Irises donated by Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.51 views
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Kaisando is the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin. 開山堂51 views
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51 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺51 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.51 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.51 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.51 views
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Motsuji's Hondo hall on the right as seen from across the pond.51 views
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Jogyodo51 views
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51 views
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51 views
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51 views
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Motsu-ji's Hondo main hall.50 views
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50 views
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About Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.50 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50 views
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Jizo Bosatsu statue.50 views
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About Suhama Beach50 views
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