Category Archives: Buddhist Temples

The other day as I walked towards Shizunami beach from Shizunami bus station I noticed this Buddhist Temple along the way.
As I had plenty of time on hand and I was looking for some momentary shade from the blazing sun i decided to have a look around!

Contrary to Shinto shrines Buddhist temples have long names!
Shinshuu Ootaniha Daishin Kaizan Myoushyouji Temple or 真宗大谷派大心海山明照寺!

In the countryside the difference between temples and shrines is tenuous in architecture and facilities.
For example a hand washing stone basin is not that common in Buddhist Temples.

Now, this bell tower is typical of a Buddhist temple!

Lion guards also rend to of a different kind!

Certainly more elaborate!

And probably more gentle-looking!

The crest of the temple!

Grateful for the shade and the greenery!

Very old cicada tree, indeed!

The temple crest again!

Dragons don’t seem to worry about the creed!

A slightly mocking dragon!

A leery dragon?

Fine figurines on the splendid roofs!

What is their purpose?

back on the road…

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Buddhist Temples, Garden, Kyoto

Kyoto: Toufuku Temple & Gardens

June 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

You don’t have to visit Buddhist Temples in Japan because of religion.
An agnostic hedonist like myself can find many reasons to enjoy their visit.
It was the first time I had the occasion to look at Toufuku Shrine which renown for its beautiful gardens!

Even inside Kyoto City it is surrounded by a lot of greenery!

Through the main gate!

Almost the whole of the Buddhist temple and its annexes were burnt down in a big fire last century and to be rebuilt as an exact copy!

Imposing roofed walk!

The main temple is surrounded by quite a few smaller ones!

Beautiful roofs!

The main temple built around its own gardens!

Check the gardens history!

Have a good look at the flowers around you before entering the temple!

Irises!

The main gate before the actual temple!

A venerable tree!

The first garden made of stones, sand and moss!

Can you imagine the water swirling around the stones!

Ancient and mysterious stones!

From another angle!

The land represented by the moss!

Another tucked away garden!

One of the buildings enclosing the garden!

Moving to the next garden!

Getting near!

Going through one more garden!

At this point you enter an unusual garden!

This particular garden was completed in 1939!

A very rare checkered Japanese garden!

A last look before we take our leave!

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Buddhist Temples, Shizuoka City

Houtaiji Temple in Shizuoka City: Unusual Sights

May 30, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

As an agnostic I avoid the subject of religion as much as I can.
But that does not prevent me to consider the historical and cultural side of it as long as it has to offer interesting photography!

Just I walked past Houtai Temple/宝泰寺　founded in 1381 in the name of Houtaizen temple, I noticed the side portal open. I decided to take a peek!

I was first tempted to take photographs of the garden, but I noticed some strange/unusual statues!

There were a lot of small statues in pairs, so they must be all symbolic.
A child preventing his “mount” to see?

Disappearing into eternity or going back to it?

Now, what is that dachshund doing here?

A fetus position and a stretching position?

Shaking Hands?

Wishing to become a teddy bear!

Shyness?

Worry?

This is quite unusual for a Buddhist temple and more readily found in Shinto Shrines: Tokugawa ieaysu’s Crest!

A goblin on the roof/

Dragons?

Even tiny ones?

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Buddhist Temples, Japan, Shimada City, Shinto Shrines, Tourism

Mangazan Koji in Ieyama, Shimada City: The Only Temple in Japan Dedicated to Human Feet!

March 31, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you have the opportunity to get off one of the Oigaway Ralway Line trains in Ieyama, Hon Kawane, Shimada City, you will find a great oddity a few minutes walk from the walk from the Station!

Mangazan Kouji Temple!
It actually, like many similar places in Japan combines both Buddhism adn Shinto as both temple and shrine were built on the same spot!
This particular Temple was built in 1346, around 650 years ago !

This is the sole Buddhist Temple in Japan consecrated to the health of human feet!
But there is more to see there than this particular concern of the human atanomy!