Gango-ji in Summer

Bellflowers and statues at one of Nara's oldest temples

Cathy Cawood Sep 06, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>One of the most beautiful water basins I have ever photographed</p>

<p>A bell hangs at the end of the verandah</p>

<p>The garden is full of little statues</p>

<p>Delicate bellflowers bloom in the summer garden</p>

<p>An unused gate behind a stand of bush clover</p>

<p>A small red shrine near the back of the garden</p>

<p>Bellflowers and black-eyed-susan among the statues</p>

<p>Pink hydrangeas against a wonderfully textured mud wall</p>

<p>A row of potted lotuses adorn the front of the temple</p>

<p>Lattice sliding screens form the doors of the temple</p>

<p>The roof tiles of Gango-ji are particularly beautiful</p>

<p>The garden border looks artless, as if it was completely natural  </p>

Gango-ji was the first Buddhist temple built in Japan. It was moved to Nara from its original site in Asuka. Timber and tiles from the original temple were used in the reconstruction, so at least some of the main hall is a mind-boggling 1400 years old. Once there were many more temple buildings and the grounds covered most of the area that is Nara Hon-machi today. When I visited Gango-ji in August, I discovered a temple that is simple and unpretentious, and I was completely charmed by it. This temple is special - take my word for it!

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...