Kochoji Temple (Shiroyama, Odawara)

Kochoji Temple is a pretty temple close enough to Odawara station to be easily seen from the Shinkansen. In the picture at the top, you can see the Shinkansen in the background. The information posted in both English and Japanese in front of the temple does a pretty good job of explaining the temple's significance. I have entered it below without editing.

Kochoji Temple (Soto Sect of Buddhism)

This temple was established in 1900 when two temples (Kogenin and Kokitiji) were united. The temple was named so by combining the initial letters of the two temples.

The temple is famous for the legend of Sakihime, the daughter of Ujituna Hojo, the tomb of the Asada brothers who were known for their revenge officially sanctioned by the Tokugawa shogunate government, and for the tomb of Tokoku Kitamura, an important modern literary man born in Odawara.

The magnificent gate of the temple was said to have been moved from an house of an old family in Nishi Kayama. Many people are attracted to this temple in the spring when the big white magnolia tree blooms.

高長寺（曹洞宗）

小田原北条時代に創立された高源院と長吉寺が明治３３（１９００）合併したとき、両寺号の頭文字をとり高長寺と称した。この寺には北条氏の綱の姫・碕姫（大木御大方）の歴史を秘めた時として、また、江戸時代最後の幕府公許の仇討として、文政曽我兄弟とまでいわれた浅田兄弟の墓。日本近代文学に大きな業績を残した小田原の生んだ文学者・北村透谷の墓のある寺として有名である。正面の立派な門は、その昔西栢山村の旧家井上八右衛門のものであったという。境内にある白木蓮の大木は花期になると見事に咲き誇り近郷近在から見物に来る人で賑わう。

Small Shrine Near Iizumi Kannon

This is a nice example of small shrines that you will find in almost every neighborhood in Japan. This small shrine is located right next to the birthplace of Ninomiya Sontoku, not far from Iizumi Kannon. Shrines like this typically do not have a name.

Itsukushima Shrine & Fireflies (Nakai)

In Nakai Town, near Hadano City, is an interesting shrine. The shrine is surrounded by water and can only be approached by a slightly elevated wooden walkway. I would suppose this is unpleasant in the summer mosquito months, but fortunately it is not quite mosquito season yet (they are out, but still a bit slow).

We visited recently for the annual firefly festival. When the sun goes down, all the walkways are lined with cut bamboo with little candles inside - a pretty sight. In the dark corners of the field there were fireflies and many people (who numbered more than the fireflies) crowded around looking at them.

I didn't come prepared for night pictures, so just took this one of the shrine building and another of a bamboo and candle arrangement.

Itsukushima Shrine was first built in 1807, and was originally a Benten shrine. Shine festivals are dedicated to the gods 市杵島姫神（イチキシマヒメ） and 倉稲魂命 （うがのみたま）.

Iizumi Kannon (Shofukuji Temple)

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.

Zojoji Temple (Tokyo)

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.

Odawara Castle

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.