Motsu-ji Temple, Tohoku, Japan
4.0 (445 reviews) Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Ranking #3 in Iwate Prefecture Historic Sites • Religious Sites
Beautiful garden
Special Historical Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty The garden represents the Pure Land Buddhist world and beauty of Japan. The temple garden of Motsu-ji has been doubly recognized as a Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty, a tribute to its extraordinary cultural value. The temple itself, like Chuson-ji, is said to have been established in 850 by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi, third head abbot of the Tendai sect.) Building began here in the twelfth century, during the time of Fujiwara no Motohira, and was completed by his son, Hidehira. At its peak, Motsu-ji was home to more than forty halls and pagodas, and more than five hundred monks' quarters. Its main hall, Enryu-ji, was considered "without peer in all the land" by medieval sources. The garden is centered on a pond known as Oizumigaike, an exemplar of the elegance of Heian era gardening technique.
Address
58 Hiraizumi Osawa, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun 029-4102 Iwate Prefecture
Mobile
Website
http://www.motsuji.or.jp
Working hours
Monday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Current local date and time now
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 0:44
User Ratings
4.0 based on (445 reviews)
Reviews
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5MarkKwok 5:00 PM Sep 16, 2019
Beautiful garden
I went from Sendai as a day trip and took the run run loop bus. There is a big pond and what makes this garden stands out is a stream which feeds the pond. There are rocks and plants strategically placed by the stream to divert the water and to make the stream pleasing to the eye. I had an enjoyable stroll around the grounds before taking the bus to Chusonji.
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3LVV 5:00 PM Jul 30, 2021
The site of where a beautiful temple once stood
This temple is a world heritage site because it has a lot of history. However, most of what used to be there has burned down. Now, all that's left is a garden with a large pond, a small museum (just one room, no English information), and a temple building reconstructed in 1989. I'm sure it used to be beautiful in the day. Now, it's just the site of where something beautiful used to stand. I think the entrance fee of 700 yen is a bit much for what there is to see.
