Shinnyo-do Temple, located on a hilltop along the Shirakawa River, has been a Tendai sect Buddhist training school for 1000 years. Besides the solemn Hondo Hall and a beautiful three-story pagoda, the temple has two attractive gardens: Nehan-no-niwa, with images of the time when Buddha came into Nirvana, was built in 1988 and Zuien-no-niwa, an ultra-modern patchwork garden built in 2010. They are located in Shoin Hall. Although these gardens are relatively new, when sitting on the tatami mat and looking out at them, I felt truly purified. Tranquil and clear air flows freely here.
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Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima
Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...
