The red building on the left is the Kondo (Golden Hall), again a modern reconstruction. It houses a Yakushi Buddha. The gate to the right of it leads to Betto, which I think houses the head priest.
Temples May 12th 2010 Today I took the train to Hiraizumi - a 20 minute ride from my base in Mizusawa and a quaint little town that (incidentally) happens to be a world heritage site. Undeterred by the rain, I sallied forth and was not disappointed.
My first stop was to a Cave Temple called Takkoku-no-Iwaya Bishamon-Do (try saying that to the bus driver and getting it right!). Cave Temple is a little misleading as ... read more
Asia » Japan » Iwate » Hiraizumi In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more