This is a temple, but it is not in Odawara. Nevertheless, I was in the area and I thought I would take some photos. The main hall is wrapped up while it undergoes some restoration, but there where still a few pretty areas around the temple. Also, this is the first time I have seen, or taken the time to notice, the tree planted by then Vice President George H. W. Bush.
This is one of the largest temples in Tokyo, yet many Japanese do not know it by name. I need to check on this, but I believe the grounds of the temple once took up most of what it now Shiba Park. (I did check and this is the history: it is unclear when Zojoji was founded, but it changed its name to Zojoji from Komyoji and its affiliation to the Jodo Sect in 1393, when it was located in Kojimachi (Tokyo), it was then relocated by the first Tokugawa Shogun to its present location in 1598, and in 1873 much of the grounds were turned into Shiba Park - around that time the grounds of many large temples in Japan were confiscated or turned into parks by the new Meiji government.) The present grounds a still pretty spacious and include the graves of several Edo Era Shogun rulers.
I think the faces of Buddhist images can be fascinating. At older temples, each statue has a unique expression. I am in this area occasionally, so will probably take some more pictures here from time to time.
I took some pictures yesterday at Iizumi Kannon (or Iizumi-san or Shofukuji Temple). (飯泉観音、飯泉山、勝福寺) The grounds of temple are medium-sized, but were fairly extensive at one point. The temple dates to the Nara Period at a different location, but only from 1706 at the present location. It is a Shingon Sect temple, which explains the statue of Kobo Daishi on the grounds. The sky was not very pretty yesterday, so mostly took pictures of statues.
This is a temple, but it is not in Odawara. Nevertheless, I was in the area and I thought I would take some photos. The main hall is wrapped up while it undergoes some restoration, but there where still a few pretty areas around the temple. Also, this is the first time I have seen, or taken the time to notice, the tree planted by then Vice President George H. W. Bush..jpg)
I think I will start out with some pictures of Odawara Castle I took yesterday. Not a temple I know, but castles and Shinto shrines fall under the scope of this blog. .jpg)
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