Gyokiji Temple

On 11th June, hubby and I visited Gyokiji Temple located in Kaizu city of Gifu prefecture. It is a Jodo sect Buddhist temple and its honorific mountain prefix is Goryuzan. It is also known by the names Tsukimiji and Kakurejo (hidden castle). The temple is located in the middle of Yoro Mountains. It is the family temple of Matsudaira, the lord of Mino Takasu Domain. The temple has a castle like structure with high stone walls, and at a first glance it looks like a small castle. According to some theories, the temple functioned as a castle of the Takasu Domain in an emergency.

A legend has it that a Buddhist priest of Nara period named Gyoki was touring the region in 744. He witnessed damages caused by flood in the area and requested Emperor Shomu to build the temple for the people. It is theorized that Gyoki was born in 668 and passed at the age of 81 at Sugawara Temple in 749, and was buried in Chikurinji Temple in Ikoma City. But according to the Gyokiji Temple documents, he was born in 677 and passed in 757, following which he was buried at this temple premises. Gyokiji Temple was burned down by Yuki Tomosada in 1336 during the turmoil of the northern and southern dynasties (Nanboku-cho period 1336-1392). It was rebuilt during Shohei era (1346-1370). In 1702, Yoshiyuki Matsudaira, the lord of the Mino Takasu Domain, made Gyokiji a family temple of Matsudaira and started a large-scale renovation work. The renovation was completed in 1709. Until Meiji Restoration, the general public was prohibited from worshipping at this temple. Currently the temple premises have a main hall, a warehouse, lecture halls, a mausoleum of Matsudaira family, and a strolling garden.

We visited Gyokiji Temple on a cloudy day. On reaching the car parking lot of the temple on Yoro Mountains, we noted that the parking lot served as an observation area. We got a wonderful overview of Nobi Plain stretching in front of us along with Ibigawa River flowing through it. The magnificent scenery was breathtaking. We enjoyed superb view of the plain and the river.

I am standing at the car parking lot

Nobi Plain and Ibigawa River to our left (north) as viewed from the parking lot

View right in front (east) of us

The plain and the river to our right (south)

We walked towards the temple premises and noted that the temple had high stone walls just like a castle. As I have written earlier, the temple also functioned as a hidden castle of the Takasu Domain during an emergency. In fact, another name of the temple is Kakurejo which means hidden castle.

A high stone wall of the temple

We reached the entrance of the temple and saw a gorgeous wooden gate named Sanmon. The gate was erected in 1820. We loved the intricate carvings on the gate. The gate with fresh green leaves of maple trees in the foreground was absolutely stunning.

Sanmon Gate and I

Another view of Sanmon Gate

Hubby and the gate as viewed from inside the temple premises

Just after entering Sanmon Gate, we saw a wooden building named Shinei-do to our left. On the far left, we saw a stone mausoleum of Matsudaira family of the Takasu Domain.

Shinei-do building

Mausoleum of Matsudaira family

Next, we saw Hondo Main Hall. The current Main Hall was rebuilt in 1832. There were many statues of Jizo Bosatsu lined on either side of the paved pathway leading to the hall. A principal statue of Amida Nyorai is enshrined inside the hall.

A paved pathway leading to Hondo Main Hall

Many statues of Jizo Bosatsu along the paved pathway

Hondo Main Hall

I am standing in front of the Main Hall

A statue of Amida Nyorai is enshrined inside the hall.

There is a strolling (circuit style) garden within the temple premises. The garden was built in 1705 and we can see it for a fee. We walked leisurely in the garden and enjoyed the seasonal flowers. Moss, which is the one of the signature plant of the garden, was so beautiful.

Garden

I am standing next to blooming flowers

Moss

We loved visiting Gyokiji Temple and enjoyed the stunning view of overlooking Nobi Plain from the temple premises.

Kokeizan Eihoji Temple

On 20th May, hubby and I visited Kokeizan Eihoji Temple located in Tajimi city of Gifu prefecture. The temple is located on a mountain named Kokei. It was established during Kamakura period in 1313 by the Nanzenji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. The temple was at its peak during the 14th and 15th centuries, and had around 30 buildings at the time. Unfortunately, most of these were destroyed by fire during the Sengoku period. In 2003, the main hall, the main entrance, the main living quarters, and the back of the warehouse were destroyed by a fire. The living quarters and the warehouse were restored in 2007 while the main hall and the main entrance were rebuilt in 2011. The temple grounds are home to Zazen trainees.

We noted that Eihoji is a very picturesque temple with the main attraction being Kannon-do hall building surrounded by a beautiful garden.

I am standing in the temple premises

Kannon-do hall is a beautiful wooden building famed for its Zen architecture. It was built the year after Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk Muso Kokushi visited Kokeizan in 1314. The main part of the building has relatively few repairs and retains the vestiges of the olden times. The building has a majestic appearance with Irimoya zukuri architectural style. A principal statue of sitting Kannon Bosatsu is enshrined inside the hall. The building was designated as a national treasure in 1901 and a cultural treasure in 1952. Since 2011, Zen-style weddings are held in Kannon-do and its precincts. We loved looking at the strikingly beautiful and aesthetically pleasing building from various angles and positions.

Kannon-do building, a pond, and an arched bridge as viewed from the north

Kannon-do as viewed from the east

Kannon-do as viewed from the south

Next, we walked leisurely in Eihoji Garden in the temple precincts. It is a traditional Zen garden that was designed by monk Muso Kokushi. The garden has an area of about 51300 square meters. The grounds and Zen garden include a pond, a bridge, and a waterfall cascading over rocks. The picturesque garden is designated as a place of national scenic beauty.

We enjoyed strolling along the pond named Garyuike in the garden. It was stunning to see the pond and Kannon-do building together. The view was spectacular. There were many carps swimming in the pond and it was so interesting to see a carp that looked like the flag of Japan.

Kannon-do, Garyuike pond, and arched an bridge

Carps in the pond with one that looked like the flag of Japan

While strolling in the garden, we noted a magnificent looking wooden arched bridge named Musaikyo or the Endless Bridge over the pond, which is one of the main attractions in the temple premises. Crossing the bridge led us to Kannon-do building. It is said that walking over the bridge symbolizes traveling to a place of spiritual enlightenment. The bridge was first built in 1478 and replaced frequently. The current bridge is from 1986 and was repaired in 2008. Except for the pavilion, almost all the parts of the bridge were replaced. It is 16.68 meters long, and the contrast between the beautiful garden and the bridge was wonderful.

I am standing in front of Musaikyo Bridge

Hubby standing in front of the bridge

Front (south) side of Kannon-do building after crossing the bridge

East side of Kannon-do as seen after crossing the bridge

Next to Kannon-do building, we saw a rocky mountain named Bonnongan. Usually spring water streams down the mountain as a waterfall named Bonnon but it seemed to have dried up when we visited. There was a hexagonal building named Reiyoden located on the top of the mountain. Surrounding this building there were one thousand stone statues of Jizo Bosatsu on the rocky mountain.

Bonnongan Mountain

Reiyoden hexagonal building surrounded by statues of many Jizo Bosatsu

A statue of Jizo Bosatsu

We saw a large Gingko tree inside the temple premises. It is said to have been planted by the founder of the temple Buttoku Zenji. The tree is about 700 years old and 25 meters high. It is a popular spot for photos during the autumn season. Adjacent to the tree, we saw a traditional style wooden belfry called Shoro-do inside which a huge bell is housed.

I am standing in front of a large Gingko tree

Shoro-do belfry

Although we saw the main hall of the temple, I did not click any photos of the hall building as I thought that it was the office building. Only later did I realize that the building was the main hall. It looked relatively new because it was rebuilt in 2011 after the original building was destroyed by a devastating fire in 2003.

We enjoyed visiting Kokeizan Eihoji Temple and taking a stroll in Eihoji Garden. It was so calm and serene to walk along the pond and see the picturesque Kannon-do building, the bridge, and the rocky mountain with a hexagonal building. After enjoying the stunning views for some more time, we left the temple. While returning to the car parking area, we got a wonderful view of the temple premises from a hilltop. We also saw a bamboo grove along the way.

Temple premises as viewed from a hilltop

Bamboo grove