https://templeandshrine.blog/2026/10/04/chusonji/https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/tsukimizaka_slope_03.jpgAutumn maples on Tsukimizaka, Chuson-jiMaples turn orange and red among the old cedars of the Tsukimizaka approach in early November. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tsukimizaka_Slope_03.jpg">Tsukimizaka Slope 03</a>" by Higa4, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">CC0 1.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/230728_motsuji_hiraizumi_iwate_pref_japan03s3.jpgOizumi-ga-ike pond, Motsu-ji Pure Land gardenOizumi-ga-ike, the pond at the heart of Motsu-ji's Pure Land garden, with a low peninsula and rocks set in the water to suggest a seacoast. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:230728_Motsuji_Hiraizumi_Iwate_pref_Japan03s3.jpg">230728 Motsuji Hiraizumi Iwate pref Japan03s3</a>" by 663highland, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/basho_memorial_-_chusonji_hiraizumi_iwate_-_dsc04985.jpgStatue of Matsuo Basho, Chuson-jiThe statue of Matsuo Basho on the grounds of Chuson-ji, near the Old Outer Hall. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basho_memorial_-_Chusonji,_Hiraizumi,_Iwate_-_DSC04985.jpg">Basho memorial - Chusonji, Hiraizumi, Iwate - DSC04985</a>" by Daderot, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">CC0 1.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/interior_of_konjikido_chusonji_62.jpgKonjikido altar, photograph published 1915One of the Konjikido's altars, with a seated Amida at the center and attendant figures on either side, in a photograph published in 1915, long before the 1962–1968 restoration. Photography inside the hall is not allowed today. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_Konjikido,_Chusonji_%2862%29.jpg">Interior of Konjikido, Chusonji (62)</a>" by Imperial Japanese Commission to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, from <em>Japanese Temples and their Treasures</em> (1915), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/konjikido_shelter_hall_-_chusonji_hiraizumi_iwate_-_dsc04951.jpgKonjikido outer hall, Chuson-jiThe modern outer hall at Chuson-ji, which shelters the gold-covered Konjikido inside, seen from the foot of its steps. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Konjikido_shelter_hall_-_Chusonji,_Hiraizumi,_Iwate_-_DSC04951.jpg">Konjikido shelter hall - Chusonji, Hiraizumi, Iwate - DSC04951</a>" by Daderot, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">CC0 1.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.2026-10-03T17:02:53+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/14/buddhist-statues/2026-10-02T13:07:54+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/shrine-vs-temple/2026-10-02T13:05:43+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/how-to-visit-a-shrine/2026-10-02T13:03:49+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/10/02/how-to-read-a-japanese-shrine/https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kushida_shrine_shimenawa_haiden_20231123.jpgKushida Shrine the shimenawa of the haidenA thick straw shimenawa hung with white zigzag shide stretches across the front of the haiden (worship hall) at Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kushida_Shrine_the_shimenawa_of_the_haiden_1-41_Kami-kawabatamachi_Hakata-ku_Fukuoka_20231123.jpg">Kushida Shrine the shimenawa of the haiden</a>" by Hirho, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/a-un-pair.jpgA-un-pairAn a-un pair of komainu in Kamakura: one guardian has its mouth open for "a," the other has it closed for "un." Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A-un-pair.jpg">A-un-pair</a>" by Urashimataro, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/chozuya_dragon.jpgChozuya dragonA dragon-shaped spout pours water into the basin of a temizuya at a shrine in Nara, with ladles laid across it for visitors. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch%C5%8Dzuya_dragon.jpg">Chōzuya dragon</a>" by Flittergreeze, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/heian_shrine_torii_gate.jpgHeian Shrine Torii GateA myojin torii: the vermilion great torii of Heian Jingu in Kyoto. Note how the top beam curves upward at the ends. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heian_Shrine_Torii_Gate.JPG">Heian Shrine Torii Gate</a>" by Hirayuki1886, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">CC0 1.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ise_ise-jingu_ujibashi_bridge_1.jpgIse Ise-jingu Ujibashi Bridge 1A shinmei torii: the plain wooden gate at the Uji Bridge, the entrance to the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu. Its top beam is perfectly straight. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ise_Ise-jingu_Ujibashi_Bridge_1.jpg">Ise Ise-jingu Ujibashi Bridge 1</a>" by Zairon, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://templeandshrine.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1_no_torii_mount_kongo1.jpg1 no Torii (Mount Kongo)1The ichi no torii (first torii) of Katsuragi Shrine on Mount Kongo stands over the approach path through the cedar forest. Photo: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1_no_Torii_%28Mount_Kongo%291.jpg">1 no Torii (Mount Kongo)1</a>" by KENPEI, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons.2026-10-02T11:38:25+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/27/zenkoji/2026-09-27T08:30:32+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/27/nikko-toshogu/2026-09-27T08:22:12+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/24/ryoanji/2026-09-24T14:25:10+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/23/horyuji/2026-09-23T08:57:25+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/15/byodoin/2026-09-15T14:49:17+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/15/enryakuji/2026-09-14T15:09:43+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/14/sanjusangendo/2026-09-13T15:23:42+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/12/goshuin/2026-09-12T09:19:15+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/07/omamori-and-ema/2026-09-07T14:49:11+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/07/japanese-buddhist-schools-zen-pure-land-shingon-and-beyond/2026-09-07T14:45:08+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/09/06/dazaifu-tenmangu/2026-09-06T06:04:18+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/31/what-is-a-kami/2026-08-31T14:16:55+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/31/koyasan/2026-08-31T14:03:19+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/home/2026-08-29T07:18:39+00:00weekly0.6https://templeandshrine.blog/all-guides/2026-08-29T07:17:48+00:00weekly0.6https://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/27/kasuga-taisha-naras-shrine-of-sacred-deer-and-3000-lanterns/2026-08-26T15:05:36+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/26/ginkaku-ji/2026-08-26T14:54:13+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/26/izumo-taisha/2026-08-26T14:44:31+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/26/shinbutsu-shugo-when-japans-gods-and-buddhas-were-one/2026-08-26T14:41:22+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/about/2026-08-18T13:49:46+00:00weekly0.6https://templeandshrine.blog/privacy-policy-2/2026-08-18T13:48:59+00:00weekly0.6https://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/kinkaku-ji/2026-08-17T12:20:32+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/meiji-jingu/2026-08-17T12:20:25+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/todai-ji/2026-08-17T12:20:18+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/itsukushima-shrine/2026-08-17T12:20:03+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/kiyomizu-dera/2026-08-17T12:19:56+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/senso-ji/2026-08-17T12:19:49+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/fushimi-inari/2026-08-17T12:19:43+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/08/17/ise-jingu/2026-08-17T12:19:36+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blog/2026/07/11/hello-world/2026-07-11T07:37:16+00:00monthlyhttps://templeandshrine.blogdaily1.02026-10-03T17:02:53+00:00