Setagaya Kannon Temple

Setagaya Kannon Temple is relatively new.
It was established in 1951.

This temple is not big one but it has many interesting things.

Buildings are unique and beautiful.
One of them is for Kamikaze Pilots who sacrificed their lives in World War II.

There's a Ukon cherry blossoms which has yellow flowers.
It's one of 27 trees in Japan.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Station>

Sangenjaya station on Tokyu Den-en Toshi LIne

*****************************************************************

 

Nishi Honganji Temple

Nishi Honganji Temple started from the mausoleum of the Great Priest Shinran.
Shinran started Jodoshinshu Sect of Buddhism and passed away in 1263.

A mausoleum was built in 1272 by his disciples.
Temple became big but was transferred several time for some reasons.

It comes to Kyoto again around year of 1600.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Bus Stop>

Nishi Honganji Mae

*****************************************************************

Sanjusangendo

Sanjusando is a long hall of Rengeoin Temple.
Sanjusan means 33. Gen means space between pillars.

This hall is 120 m long from North to South.
There're 1000 standing statues of Buddha lined up in the hall.

These are called Senju Kannon, and each one has 1000 hands.
Actually a statue has 42 hands and 2 hands joined together in prayer each one of other 40 hands saves one world. So one statue saves 1000 worlds.

Also, it has 11 faces on the head.

It looks like forest of Buddha.
In the middle of the forest, there's a large sitting statues of Buddha.
All other 1000 statues size is human size.

Archery contest was held on the outside hallway.
They competed how many arrows went all way through the hallway (120 m !!) in 24 hours. Record is more than 8000 successes out of more than 10000 trials.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Bus Stop>

Hakubutsukan / Sanjusangendo - Mae

<Admission>

600 yen

8:00 - 17:00
9:00 - 16:00 (Nov. 16 through Mar. 31)

*****************************************************************

Toji Temple

Toji Temple was established when the Capital was transferred from Nara to Kyoto in 794.

The Great Priest Kukai came back from his study trip from China and started esoteric Buddhism.

Kodo Hall is the core architectural structure of Toji Temple.
It has 3D Mandala in the Hall.
Mandala is Buddhist visual schema of the enlightened mind and it's usually expressed as a picture or tapestry.

Many statues of Buddha shows it in here.

Five story pagoda is the tallest tower made of wood in Japan.
This is the one you can see from the window of Shinkansen (bullet train).

This temple was designated as UNESCO World Heritage in 1994.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Bus Stop>

Toji Higashimon Mae
Toji Minamimon Mae

<Admission>

500 yen : Kodo Hall and Kondo Hall
800 yen : Kodo Hall, Kondo Hall and 5 story pagoda (Limited season)

*****************************************************************

Tofukuji Temple

Tofukuji Temple was established in 13th century as the largest temple in Kyoto.
It was named after the combination of Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple in Nara.

There're gardens in the mountain and buildings are connected by long hallway.
This hallway goes across the river as a bridge.

These buildings were lost by fires and rebuilt several times.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Bus Stop>

Tofukuji

<Admission>

400 yen : Tsuten Bridge and Kaizando Hall
400 yen : Garden

9:00 - 16:00  Apr. through Oct.
8:30 - 16:00  Nov. through Early Dec.
9:00 - 15:30  Early Dec. through Mar.

*****************************************************************

Sennyuji Temple

Sennyuji Temple is located near Imakumano Kannonji Temple.
This temple has almost same history as Imakumano Kannonji Temple.

It's established by Great Priest Kukai in early 800s but most of buildings were lost in the civil war in 15th century and rebuilt after then.

After you go through the gate, you'll see main hall with huge roof under the hill.

This temple has a statue of Kannon and her face is so beautiful, it's called Yang Kuei Fei Kannon. Yang Kuei Fei was the wife of Chinese Emperor Chin and known as a beauty.

Gardens are beautiful, too.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Bus Stop>

Sennyuji-Michi

<Admission>

500 yen

9:00 - 16:30
9:00 - 16:00 from Dec. 1 through Feb. 28

*****************************************************************

Imakumano Kannonji Temple

Imakumano Kannnonji Temple is in the mountain and very quiet.
It's not well known sightseeing spot, however, you can enjoy quiet environment and history of Kyoto.

You'll go through a red bridge to get into the area of this temple.

This temple started as a hut of the Great Priest Kukai in 807.
It's just after he came back from study trip in China.

Buildings were built in 9th century, but lost in the civil war in 15th century.
Current buildings were built after this war.

*****************************************************************
<The Nearest Bus Stop>

Sennyuji-Michi

*****************************************************************