 Most viewed - Hiraizumi 平泉町 |
About the Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. 梵鐘627 views
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Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. Nice building for the bell. 梵鐘599 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall worships Yakushi Nyorai. 峯薬師堂585 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.178 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.163 views
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Suhama Beach is a peninsular beach at Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.160 views
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Altar inside Chusonji's Hondo main hall.158 views
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Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.158 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. 156 views
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Chusonji's Hondo main hall, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.155 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.137 views
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Weeping cherries and Motsuji's Hondo hall in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.134 views
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Inside Motsuji's Hondo main hall. It worships Yakushi, flanked by two Boddhisatvas, Nikko ("Daylight") and Gakko ("Moonlight").133 views
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Rental bicycles near Chusonji.131 views
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Great dance. Enjoyed it very much. Be sure to see my video.129 views
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127 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.127 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.113 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.112 views
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Inside Benkei Hall.112 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112 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.112 views
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Statues inside Benkei-do Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall. Chusonji has a number of smaller halls of worship. 峯薬師堂110 views
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110 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.109 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵109 views
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Former housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. This building sheltered the Konjikido from 旧覆堂109 views
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Benkei Hall at Chusonji temple, Hiraizumi.108 views
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Benkei Hall.108 views
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Statue of Benkei in the corner.108 views
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Cherry tree near Chusonji's Hondo main hall.108 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.107 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.107 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.107 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.107 views
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Taiko drum dance by eight men dressed as fierce-looking deer-lion with tall antlers and a mane.107 views
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They were so good that I delayed my departure from the train station to watch this.106 views
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From the lookout point are a few cherry blossoms.106 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106 views
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105 views
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I parked my rental bicycle near this entrance to Chusonji temple grounds.105 views
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A slight sloping path going to Chusonji temple. It's a nice wooded path.105 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.105 views
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105 views
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Incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.105 views
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105 views
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Fudo-do Hall, a prayer training hall. Worships Fudo-myoo. 不動堂105 views
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Ticket gate to enter Konjikido Golden Hall.105 views
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Statue of Haiku poet Basho at Chusonji temple.105 views
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105 views
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My video of the antlered deer dancers at Chusonji.105 views
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Along the way was this Benkei Hall and a fallen torii.104 views
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Poem monument for Saigyo (1118-1190), a famous Japanese poet who traveled in the Tohoku area a lot.104 views
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Cherry blossoms at a scenic lookout deck.104 views
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Water fountain104 views
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Chusonji's temple bell.104 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂 辨財天十五童子104 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall 辨財天堂104 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.104 views
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Near the Konjikido is the Kyozo Sutra Repository. 経蔵104 views
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104 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.103 views
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Eastern Lookout deck along the way to Chusonji.103 views
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About Benkei Hall.103 views
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Another scenic lookout point.103 views
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103 views
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103 views
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Gate to Chusonji's Hondo main hall.103 views
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103 views
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On to Konjikido, 240 meters away.103 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.103 views
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Kyozo Sutra Repository. Important Cultural Property. 経蔵103 views
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Chusonji votive tablets.103 views
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103 views
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Chusonji is the Tohoku headquarters temple for the Tendai Buddhist sect. About 800 meters to Konjikido Hall.102 views
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Jizo statue and Chusonji stone sign.102 views
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102 views
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102 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).102 views
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About the Benzaiten-do Hall.102 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.102 views
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Path to Konjikido Hall, the main attraction of Chusonji temple. 金色堂102 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.102 views
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Monument for haiku poet Basho.102 views
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Roots102 views
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102 views
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Placing incense into the incense burner in front of Chusonji's Hondo main hall.101 views
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101 views
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101 views
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Chusonji's fire dept.101 views
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The admission fee includes admission to Konjikido Hall, Sankozo Museum, Sutra Repository, and the Former Konjikidō Shelter Hall.101 views
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Path to Hakusan Shrine.101 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 2.101 views
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The 3/11 earthquake fell this torii at Benkei Hall.100 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. 100 views
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I went during Golden Week so there was a good number of people, but it wasn't horrendously crowded.100 views
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100 views
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100 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.99 views
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About the Kyozo Sutra Repository.99 views
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Haiku poet Basho Monument for his Oku-no-Hosomichi series.99 views
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About the old housing for the Konjikido Golden Hall, called Konjikido Oido. 旧覆堂99 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.77 views
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About Motsuji's Hondo main hall. Nice to see English explanations.77 views
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77 views
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77 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. 76 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.76 views
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Motsuji's Hondo main hall was built in 1989.76 views
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About the haiku poem by Basho.75 views
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Incense burner75 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.75 views
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75 views
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About the Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.74 views
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74 views
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Rocks representing peninsular sea cliffs. One symbol of the garden.74 views
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73 views
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The garden has been restored to its original condition.73 views
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73 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.73 views
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Site of the temple bell or befry.73 views
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About the Jizo Bosatsu statue.73 views
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Jogyodo Hall, Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi.73 views
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About Jogyodo Hall.73 views
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Jogyodo Hall worships Amida Buddha.73 views
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73 views
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73 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.72 views
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What Motsu-ji temple looked like before.72 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺72 views
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Site of Enryuji temple's Kondo hall at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 圓隆寺72 views
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Jogyodo Hall, this building was built in 1732.72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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Haiku poet Basho monument71 views
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Kaisando is the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin. 開山堂71 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺71 views
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Motsuji's Hondo hall on the right as seen from across the pond.71 views
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About the new temple bell.71 views
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70 views
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Irises donated by Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.70 views
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Inside Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.70 views
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70 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70 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.70 views
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Jogyodo70 views
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Temple bell rebuilt in 1975.70 views
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Motsu-ji's Hondo main hall.69 views
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About mountain-like formations.69 views
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About Kaisando, the Founder's Hall dedicated to Priest Ennin.69 views
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Jizo Bosatsu statue.69 views
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About Suhama Beach69 views
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Site of Kashoji temple at Motsuji, Hiraizumi. 嘉祥寺68 views
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Yarimizu stream feeding water to the pond.68 views
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