Bentenjima Beach, Kanzanji Temple, and Atago Shrine

As I wrote in the previous post, hubby and I visited Hamanako Garden Park on 2nd December 2020. After that we visited two more places (three spots) in Hamamatsu city. First we visited Bentenjima Beach. Bentenjima Island is located in Maisaka in Hamamtsu city of Shizuoka prefecture. The beach along Lake Hamana is well known for an 18-meter tall red Torii Gate in the lake. The beach is a famous sunset spot. During a period of about a month in winter, it is possible to see the sun setting right into this red Torii Gate. The gate is also known to be a spiritual and mystical ‘power spot’. We just wanted to enjoy the beach area, so visited in the afternoon.

We noted that Bentenjima Beach area has a wonderful resort. In the photo below, hubby is posing along the beach.

We enjoyed looking at the wonderful red Torii Gate that seemed to be floating on the surface of Lake Hamana.

Another view of the Torii Gate

Yet another view of the gate from a slightly different angle

I am posing at the beach along with the red Torii Gate and Lake Hamana in the background.

Hubby and the Torii Gate

I am too slow for the self timer of our camera.

After enjoying our visit to Bentenjima Beach area, we visited a Buddhist temple in Hamamatsu city itself. The temple named Kanzanji is a Zen Soto sect temple located on the slopes of 50-meter-high Mount Tateyama. The temple is situated on the northeast side of Lake Hamana facing Uchira Bay. The temple is said to have been established by Kobo Daishi Kukai in 810. In the photo below, hubby is standing in front of an information board of Kanzanji Temple inside the temple premises.

We loved the architecture of the wooden Hondo Main Hall of Kanzanji Temple.

I am standing in front of Hondo Main Hall of the temple.

It was interesting to note that due to Covid-19 pandemic, the temple organization had started the ‘2021 New Year’ prayers in December 2020 itself. It was called ‘Saisakimairi’ or ‘Saisakimode’, which literally means praying for good luck. It was done to avoid people gathering in large numbers during ‘Hatsumode’, which is the first visit to the temple in the New Year. The photo below is a banner explaining about Saisakimairi prayers.

This is another banner appealing to the visitors about Saisakimairi prayers.

The interior of Hondo Main Hall was gorgeous. A deity of Fukuichimangankokuzo Bosatsu, a Buddha of infinite wisdom and compassion, is enshrined inside the hall.

The photo below shows another view with interesting artifacts inside Hondo Main Hall.

Next to Hondo Main Hall, we saw many votive tablets with written prayers from worshippers hanging from racks. It was so interesting to see rows and rows of votive tablets. In the photo below, to the left are votive tablets hanging from the outer wall of a wooden pavilion inside which a deity named Enmusubi Jizouzon is enshrined. Here only one wall of the pavilion with tablets is seen on the left side of the photo. Visitors worship here to fall in eternal love with their partners and for divine blessings in their relationship.

Next, to the north of Kanzanji Temple, we saw a historic shrine named Atago. It was established during the Nara period (727 AD). Legend has it that it was initially established as a Buddhist temple but the temple was abolished and replaced with this Shinto shrine during the Meiji era. A principal statue of Hinokagutsuchi, the god of fire, is enshrined inside. The photo below is the wooden Honden Main Hall of Atago Shrine.

Hubby is standing in front of Honden Main Hall of the shrine.

The photo below shows a stone statue of Komainu lion-dog guarding the entrance of Honden Main Hall of the shrine. In fact, there was a pair of Komainu on either side of the pathway leading to the hall. In addition, the stone lanterns on either side of the pathway looked so beautiful.

We enjoyed visiting Bentenjima Beach, Kanzanji Temple, and Atago Shrine in Hamamatsu city.