Tengakuin

A serene, scenic Fujisawa temple

Peter Sidell Jun 25, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>This cute couple are sitting in front of one of the outer buildings</p>

<p>This big statue of the Kannon (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) is watching over the entrance</p>

<p>You enter through this thatched gate</p>

<p>The path from the gate to the inner precinct</p>

<p>This demon is standing sentry at the gate...</p>

<p>... while this is the one who asks the questions</p>

<p>Near the entrance there are these statues sheltering from the sunlight</p>

<p>The Kannon sits on her water-lily, making sure you purify your hands before you go on</p>

<p>You can't go beyond this gate to the inner courtyard</p>

<p>Dragons and a lion climbing on the incense-burner</p>

<p>Two more cute statues at one of the side halls</p>

<p>One of the lions standing guard near the entrance</p>

<p>The temple is surrounded by greenery</p>

About twenty minutes' walk from Fujisawa station, Tengakuin is a blissfully serene temple, surrounded by greenery. Even though it's just off a main road, it's largely insulated from the noise of the traffic, with only birdsong to break the silence. I visited on a beautifully warm, sunny day, but there were no other visitors at all, so I could enjoy the restful atmosphere at my leisure.

Peter Sidell @peter.sidell

I came to Japan from Manchester, England in 2003, and have travelled a lot since then, around Japan and in Asia. When I'm not working, I write satire and perform stand-up comedy in and around Tokyo. Check YouTube for a taste.