With 1,200 year history, Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo

If you have some time when you visit Chusonji temple, please try to visit this temple, too.  Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo was established in a religious precinct by one of Samurai heros, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, in 801.  Because this surrounding area is so sacred that it is forbidden to kill any animals or pick any plants.  Plus, you are not supposed to smoke, eat, or drink, nor bring any pets.  Please feel the power of divine land surrounded with barrier.    

Bishamondo was built under the cliff.  It is said that this temple was built in the style of Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple.   Bishamon is a god of war who originally protects those born in the year of Tiger.  Bishamon fights demons and invites happiness. Bishamon saves not only fighters but also those who wish for their love, intelligence, promotion and fertility. 

At the inner part of the sacred area, there is  Stone carving of Buddha.  A legend says that a master archer, Minamotono Yoshiie, carved this Buddha by firing arrows at the sandstone cliff.  The 16.5m high Buddha is one of the largest Buddha statues or carvings in Japan and known as the Northern Rock Buddha.    

Unfortunately, the lower part was destroyed by an earthquake in 1896.  The face part also needs maintenance.  It is valuable to see the Buddha on the rock. 

 
 The colored leaves are beautiful in this season, too. (from end of October to beginning of November.)

Once you go back to Ichinoseki Station, let's eat rice cake, it is famous in this area.  The rice cake balls on this photo are with bean paste, with walnut paste, with sesame paste, and with green soybean paste.  

In order to go Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo, take taxi from Hiraizumi or Ichinoseki station for 10 minutes.  Visiting time for this temple is about 20~30 minutes, it is better to ask the taxi driver to wait to go back to the station because there is nothing in this area. There is also regular bus route from spring to autumn and sight seeing bus tours on every day from spring to autumn and on the weekend in winter time. Please check with Iwate Bus company (http://www.iwatekenkotsu.co.jp/teikikankou/teikan-top.htm), TEL# 0191-23-4250. (The sightseeing bus tour is about JPY3,500 for one-day including Chusonji and Motsuji temple.)

Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo
http://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/sightseeing/takkoku/index.html

Open hours:

4/1-11/23   8:00-17:00
11/24-3/31   8:00-16:30

Admission:  JPY300 for an adult

Experience Japan!

World Heritage, Chusonji Temple

Chusonji Temple, which is located in Northern part of Japan, was registered in the U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage List in 2011.  You can go to the temple as one-day trip, let's go to see the Golden Hall if you have JR Pass.

You can see the Golden Hall and many kinds of golden Buddha statues at one time. (This photo is from a flier since you cannot take photos in this hall.)

To visit Chusonji Temple, take Tohoku bullet train from Tokyo to Ichinoseki station, it takes about 2.5 hours.  Then, take local train for 8 minutes to Hiraizumi station. To get on this train, push the open door button, and do not forget to push the close door button. In this area, people open and close the train doors to keep warm inside the trains.

Once you get to Hiraizumi station, take bus or walk to the Chusonji Temple.  It takes about 5 minutes by bus, and 20 minutes on foot up to the entrance of Chusonji precinct.  The temple and golden hall are in the mountain, so you have to climb up another 10 minutes, go for it.

This is the main hall of Chusonji Temple, the center for services and rituals.  Chusonji Temple was constructed in 12th century, after two wars were fought in Tohoku.  The first Fujiwara lord, Kiyohira lost his families at the war.  Then, he ordered to build this temple and offered a pledge before Buddha to console the spirits of the dead for not only for his families, but also for all his friends and also foes, humans and even animals. 

And this is the main event, do not miss this Golden Hall, Konjikido.  This building is remained from Fujiwara-era.  The hall was completed in 1124.  The image of Buddha, surrounded statues and the magnificent decorations are meant to represent his Pure Land western paradise.  The inlay work of iridescent shells, the Southeast Asian rosewood and African ivory show the extensive trade network at that time.  The mummified remains of four generations of Fujiwara lords rest in peace under. 

Inside of this hall is all gold!

The former shelter hall of golden hall is close by.   Current golden hall was moved from here for preservation.

In Chusonji Temple's precinct, there are many other halls and shrines, too. 

This hall has the god of eyes.

This is Noh drama stage.  Noh is actually demonstrated once a year, during Bon holidays in summer.

Now it is good time to see the temple with colored leaves as well!

Hours: 

8:30 - 17:00 for 3/1 - 11/3

8:30 - 16:30 for 11/4 - the end of February

Admission:  JPY800 for an adult

Experience Japan!

Japanese Heavenly Garden, Motsuji Temple

Motsuji Temple was constructed in Heian era (794-1192), and it is said that the temple used to flourish and have 40 halls and 500 monks' dormitories.  Also, this temple has an 850-year-old Jodo garden, which took in outstanding gardening technique and style at that time.

Jodo means the world of Budda.  So this garden was created to represent Pure Land or Heaven.  Please walk around the heavenly garden thinking about the ancient people who made this and wanted to go to heaven after death.

Because the temple suffered from numerous fires that eventually destroyed all for the 12th century buildings, the main hall here was constructed in 1988.  Now the colored leaves are very beautiful in fall, which has not been changed from 12th century for sure.

The main hall's principal image is a statue of Yakushi, Buddha of medicine, stayed with the bodhisattvas of solar and lunar radiance.  

The decoration is also very beautiful!

Basho Matsuo, the most famous poet of the Edo period, also came here and created a haiku (the Japanese poetic form.) in 1690s.  It is translated in English here.  

" The summer grass 'Tis all that's left of ancient warriors' dreams."

This is, "now only summer glasses are seen, but long time ago, the samurais were fought in this battlefield for their success and dreams."  It is impressing that old time poet created poem for older time warriors, isn't it?

Motsuji Temple is located near Hiraizumi Station, 7 minutes on foot.

 

Open Hours:  8:30-17:00 (11/5-4/4: 8:30-16:30)

Admission:  JPY500 for an adult

http://www.motsuji.or.jp/english/index.php 

Experience Japan!





Entsuin Temple with colored leaves

Walking through Zuiganji Temple caves in Matsushima,

Entsuin Temple is next to Zuiganji Temple.  This temple was built in 1647, to house the mausoleum of Mitsumune Date, who died at the age of 19.  He was a grandson of Masamune Date, first feudal lord of Sendai area.    
This temple is famous for its Japanese style moss garden and full of roses, but in fall, the temple is covered with colored leaves.

Also, you can make your own praying beads in this temple. Make reservation in advance.

Choosing your favorite power stones with your intuition.

Decide your design.    

Your original praying beads were made.
They will bring good fortune to you!












And in the evening...

Many people are going inside of the temple.

Walking inside of the temple, the lantern trail guides you to the best spot.

Lit up colored leaves are welcoming you.

  

And the best spot is Shinji pond.  The colored leaves were illuminated and reflected in the water of the pond. They are so beautiful that you must be fascinated and forget times passing by.

The best season to enjoy the colored leaves in Matsuhima is in mid November. 

Matsushima Cruise

Matsushima is one of the most beautiful three views in Japan, located in Miyagi prefecture. (Other two are Amanohashidate in Kyoto and Miyajima in Hiroshima.)
There are about 260 small islands (shima) with pines (matsu), that is why this area's scenery called as Matsushima.

Please try Matsushima bay cruise to enjoy the scenery.










First, feed see mews!

After, beautiful scenery will be coming to you.

Fisherman's ship.

Bell islands, since the sound of waves hitting to this island is like the sound of ringing bells.














Oyster farming.















Niou (Deva king) island.















And sunset.













Matsuhima is now revived from 3.11 earthquake!