Buddha and stone statues illuminated in Tsubosaka temple

“Sakura Daibutsu (Buddha statue among the cherry blossoms)" of Tsubosaka temple in Takatori, a historical treasure

Takatori Town has been developed as an important place on the way from Asuka to Yoshino and Kii since ancient times. In the mountains, a large stone is engraved with a number of Buddha statues, called the Hundred Hundred Buddha. Takatori Town It was also a place of faith.

Tsubosaka-temple is in Takatori-town, a treasure trove of history. Get off at Tsubosakayama station and climb up a mountain road for about 10 minutes by taxi.

The foundation of Tsubosaka-temple was 703, and in "Makuranososhi" written by Seishonagon, there is a passage of "Representative temple is Tsubosaka. Kasagi. Horin". It was a temple that received many nobles during the Heian period. Now, it is a temple that is famous as a temple of ophthalmitis, and it is also the stage of Ningyo Joruri's Tsubosakadera Reigenki, which depicts the love of a couple by Takuichi of husbandand with blindness and Osato of his wife.

In commemoration of the opening base 1300 of 2003 in the temple, approximately 200 Somei Yoshino etc. were planted in the precinct.

The cherry blossoms in the precincts are in full bloom, and the cherry blossoms planted around the Buddha statue, which was opened in 2007, were in full bloom and engulfed the sitting Buddha. It is a wonderful "Sakura Big Buddha". The height of the Buddha is 15 meters.

Exotic space dotted with huge Buddha from India

The site is filled with exotic Indian-style stone statues, and it feels like an indian taste that you would not expect to be in Japan. There was also a huge Buddha picture relief, drawn from the birth of Buddha to the end of the church. The sculpture of the main body is assembled without any modification to convey the techniques and senses of Indian masons as it is. This is truly a true Buddhist tradition.

In the precinct, there were the three-story pagoda and Reido, which are designated as important cultural properties of the country, and the octagonal circle, which corresponds to the main hall. I also enjoyed seeing these buildings floating in the blossoming cherry blossoms. It can be said that the unique feature of Tsubosaka temple is that India and Japan, and modern and premodern buildings coexist without any discomfort.

In the precinct, a huge Kannon stone statue is isolated against the background of cherry blossoms and mountains. Tsubosaka temple has been working on relief activities for leprosy patients in India since 1964. At the edge of the activity, the statue of the Great Kannon stone was invited from there. The height of the statue is about 20 meters. The huge Kanno stone statue is made of 300 million years old stone and has been built by a total of 70,000 Indian masons. Of course, it can not be carried from India as it is, so it was divided into 66 pieces and assembled like a puzzle on this land. If you worship the Kannon Statue, which weighs 1200 tons, you can see how Tsubosaka temple has deeply thanked the people of India for the charity of the temple.

And, behind the gaze of the statue of the Great Kannon, there is a Buddha statue of 8 meters in length, which is also produced as part of the international exchange and stone carving business in India. The international philanthropic activities of Tsubosaka temple have been developed continuously since the invitation of the statue of the Great Kannon.

"Sakura Daibutsu(Buddha statue among the cherry blossoms)" floating in the Dark Night

When the sunshine falls and the darkness of the night falls, Tsubosaka temple begun its first cherry blossom illumination event. Wrapped in a fantastic light, towers, buildings, and huge stone statues will rise in the dark at night.

The warm air of spring during the day turned into a cool air. It is a calm, sublime world.

I was able to enjoy a night walk in a wonderful atmosphere. At Sakurasaka Temple, if the cherry blossoms are over, Yamabuki will bloom and azaleas will be in full bloom during the May holidays. While thinking of Tsubosaka temple that changes the expression depending on the season, I was sent to Sakura Daibutsu and left the fantasy space.

Access

Tsubosaka Temple is 4 kilometers up a mountain from Tsubosakayama Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line, the standing Buddha statue can be seen from the train. A bus (look for these kanji: 壷阪寺前) makes 4 round trip journeys per day during the week April-November and a more generous 7 to 11 round trips in March and on weekends during the spring, summer and fall. There are 2 round trips per day from December to February. Alternatively, one can rent a bicycle (or 50cc scooter if you have a Japanese Drivers License or acquire an International Drivers Permit before coming to Japan) Asuka Ren-a-Cycle at Asuka Station and ride to the temple from there.

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