CHOURAKUJI
(Chourakuji Temple)
On the mountain of Obaste, this temple is associated with the legend of
"the abandoned old woman". There are also memorial stones to
many famous Haiku poets including the nationally acclaimed Basho Matsuo.
Matuo's famous poem "Omokageya Uba Hitori Naku Tsuki no Tomo"
(An abandoned old woman weeping with the moon as her only friend) is written
in his book Sarashina Kiko..
Near Chourakuji remain about 2000 terraced rice paddies which have been
used from the Edo period. This site has been designated an area of National
Scenic Beauty. It is said that on a clear night one can see a reflection
of the moon in each of the paddy fields. (Tagoto no Tsuki).
Chourakuji in spring
TAKEMIZUWAKE JINJA
(Takemizuwake Shrine)
The present shrine pavillions were built in 1850. The statues around the
inner shrine are splendid. Another source of pride for the shrine is the
Daitousai festival held in grand style at the end of every year. This festival
has a history stretching back 400 years.
Sunset over the terraced rice paddies
Takemizuwake Jinja
Mizukami Funayama Shrine
The Mizukami Funayama shrine has been designated a National Cultural Treasure.
It was built in the first year of the Kansei era (1789). Its main temple
was built by the great shrine master of the second half of the Edo period,
Shibamiya Chozaemon Norishige who belonged to the Oosumi School.
This main temple is adorned with numerous state-of-the art carvings．The whole place is filled with such works of art. No other buildings in that shrine has been made of such materials or endowed with carvings that leave such a deep impression of energy on its visitors
Chishiki Temple
Chishiki Temple is also as the “Hydrangea Temple” due to the fact there
are many of them within its precincts. It was also made famous thanks to
the wonderful view of the tree leaves turning red when fall comes.
It has been designated an Important National Cultural Asset by the
government. It also houses a statue of the Kannon Goddes that was carved out of
only one tree during the second half of the Heian period (11th
century).
This 11-face statue is located in the Oomido temple that has also been
designated an important cultural asset.
It was built during the Muromachi period (15th century) and you can also find parts of the typical architecture of that
tim inside the temple.
