Chūsonji Temple — Attraction in Hiraizumi

Located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, it is also part of the World Cultural Heritage "Hiraizumi - Group of Buildings, Gardens and Archaeological Relics Representing the Buddhist Land".

Chusonji Temple is famous for its long history and exquisite Buddhist architecture, especially the famous Konjikidō. This Buddhist temple decorated entirely with gold leaf makes people marvel at its craftsmanship and sense of sanctity. After entering Chusonji Temple, you can deeply feel the influence of Japanese Buddhist culture and the Oshu Fujiwara family, making you feel like you have returned to the Heian period.

The entire temple area is located on a hillside and is surrounded by dense woods. The atmosphere here is quite peaceful and perfect for walking and meditation. Walking on the path of the temple, you can hear the sound of the wind blowing through the treetops, which makes people unconsciously slow down and enjoy a moment of peace of mind.

Chusonji Temple has different scenery throughout the year. Cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, red leaves in autumn, and snowy scenery in winter each have their own unique charms. If you can arrange your visit in autumn, the mountains full of red leaves and ancient buildings complement each other beautifully, making it a good time to take photos and appreciate the natural beauty.

Visiting Chusonji Temple requires a certain amount of physical strength, because the main road of the temple is built along the hillside, and you have to climb a lot of steps, but the scenery along the way will make people feel it is worth it. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes when visiting and allow enough time to slowly explore every corner of the temple. In addition to the Golden Hall, there are many small Buddhist halls and stone monuments...

金ぴかキラキラでした。撮影禁止のお堂なのでまたこの目で見に行きたいです。 Chusonji Temple, which is located in the Northern part of Japan, is one of the U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritages. You can see the Golden Hall and many kinds of golden Buddha statues at one time. (My photo is from a flier since you cannot take photos in this hall.) Chusonji Temple was constructed in the 12th century, after two wars were fought in Tohoku. The first Fujiwara lord, Kiyohira lost his family in the war. Then, he ordered to build this temple and offered a pledge before Buddha to console the spirits of the dead for not only for his families, but also for all his friends and also foes, humans and even animals. Golden Hall, Konjikido, remains from the Fujiwara-era. The hall was completed in 1124. The image of Buddha, surrounded statues and the magnificent decorations are meant to represent his Pure Land western paradise. The inlay work of iridescent shells, the Southeast Asian rosewood and African ivory show the extensive trade network at that time. The mummified remains of four generations of Fujiwara lords rest in peace under. Inside of this hall...

A delightfully simple but very beautiful place especially as we visited there in winter. The simplicity of the building temple itself is wonderful. I certainly can see why it is designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The temple was founded in 1105 by Fujiwara Kiyohira, the founder of the Northern Fujiwara clan. Chuson-ji was the clan's菩提寺 (bodaiji), or mortuary temple, and was used as the burial place for many of the clan's members. The temple complex includes a number of important buildings, including the Konjikido, which is a National Treasure and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Japanese Buddhist...