Fukui

Myoten-ji Temple in Ono, Fukui

Meet cute statue that smiles when you pour water on it

Takako Sakamoto Nov 10, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Beautiful roof ornaments of Myotenji Temple</p>

<p>Fearsome but beautiful Oni-gawara (roof tile Oni)</p>

<p>Entrance gate and a stone marker of Myoten-ji Temple in Ono city</p>

<p>Front view of Myoten-ji Temple's entrance gate</p>

<p>Main temple building and a giant pine tree towering over it</p>

<p>Looking up at the eaves of Myoten-ji Temple's main hall</p>

<p>Cute jizo statue and colorful autumn leaves. This jizo is said to smile when you pour water on his head, and is popular among tourists, especially women.</p>

<p>Statue of the Goddess of Mercy for children standing in front of the belfry</p>

<p>Close-up look at the statue of the Goddess of Mercy for children. The baby she is holding looks so happy!</p>

<p>Stone monument of Matsumura Kyuzan (1743－1822), who was a renowned philosopher of Confucianism, as well as the medical doctor to the nobles of Ono Han.</p>

<p>Roof tile ornament displayed on the temple grounds</p>

<p>Wooden carving of a guardian dragon on the temple pillar</p>

<p>Old stone lantern and the main temple building</p>

<p>View of the 'Temple Street' in Ono Castle Town</p>

When I visited Ono Castle in Ono city, Fukui prefecture, I started my tour from the 'Ono Castle Town East Square' where I parked my car, then walked down the street to reach the castle. When I was looking around, I spotted a beautiful roof tile ornament of a temple building. As it turned out, it belonged to Myoten-ji Temple on the temple street of Ono Castle Town. This temple belongs to the Nichiren Buddhist Schools and was founded in 1500. Matsudaira Naoyoshi, who was the lord of Ono Han (region) and the sixth son of Yuki Hideyasu, invited this temple to Ono Castle Town in the 17th century. On the temple grounds, there is a cute small jizo statue, which is said to smile!? when you pour water on its head!

Ono Castle

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...