At the Motsu-Ji site in the World Heritage town of Hiraizumi, Japan, most of the huge temple complex built in the 8th Century has been destroyed by wars, fires, and earthquakes over the years. (Don't worry, though, there are plenty of temples left at the sister site of Chuson-Ji, a short bus ride away.) What I love about the Motsu-Ji site though is that they have restored the forest and the landscaping to its original form so you can see the artificial lakes and streams, and experience the serenity of the surrounding garden. And they've put a simple white marker among the remaining stone footings of the original buildings. Maybe that's more Zen than the temples themselves.
It's a bit of luck when you arrive at one of the temples and there's a service going on. The bells, the drum and the chanting. It seemed, too, that this monk arrived after the start of the service and so knelt at a corner of the altar, not unlike the other faithful. This is one of the temples of the Chuson-Ji complex at Hiraizumi, and one of our favorite visits in Japan. Almost no tourists, and those who were there were all Japanese. We didn't see one Chinese or one Westerner. Odd day, indeed.
Here are some more photos from the site.
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The temples and ruins at Hiraizumi are a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan.
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Do I detect the beginings of a love affair with Japan?
I hear words used only for Spain in the past.
Janet, there are certainly many things to like about Japan: the scenery, the food, the people, the transportation system. Then there’s the Fukushima nuclear problem, which doesn’t seem to be getting any better, and the government, by any standards, is lying to the people. Not that the Japanese are unique in that regard.