Amidaji Temple — Attraction in Aizuwakamatsu

阿弥陀寺は慶長８年（１６０３）蒲生秀行の時代、下野国に生まれた良然が開山しました。明治元年の戊辰戦争後、会津藩戦死者の遺骸は、西軍の命で放置されたまま、さわることを許されませんでした。幾度もの嘆願で埋葬が許可されたのは、翌２年２月のことでした。埋葬地は阿弥陀寺と長命寺に限られ、阿弥陀寺には千三百柱にものぼる遺骸が埋葬されました。春・秋の彼岸には手厚い供養会が行われています。 境内南にある「御三階」は元は鶴ヶ城本丸内にあったもので、明治３年に移築され本堂として使用されました。内部は４層で、秘密の会議が行われたと言われます。阿弥陀寺の入口に写真のように大仏様がありましたが、太平洋戦争で供出され、今では台座が残るだけです。

Before the Meiji Restoration ( 1868 ) , Japan was embroiled in a bitter war called the Boshin Civil War. The troops of Tokugawa ( a shogun ) fought against the troops of the Meiji ( the emperor ) . Aizu, supporting Tokugawa, fought valiantly but succumbed to the emperor's greater power. The whole of Aizu was involved in the battle, and more than 1,300 people lost their lives. Many of those courageous people are buried here at Amidaji. There used to be a great statue of Buddha on the grounds of this temple. During the Second World War, however, the Buddha was melted down due to a shortage of metal. Now, only the...

This is a great temple with several great historical aspects. My favorites are the link to the shinsengumi, their graves, and the yearly festival / paying of respects held in November. There is also a demonstration before the descendants of the shinsengumi in the same sword style as Hajime Saito...

The building is pretty but the yard is not really well maintained. The place is famous for the grave of Shinsengumi member Saito Hajime and every year, during the Aizu-Wakamatsu Festival, a ceremony is hold here to commemorate him. Recommended only to...