Shizuoka

Rinkoji

Take in the calm of this Mishima temple

Peter Sidell Oct 13, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>The main hall seen from the west graveyard</p>

<p>This is at the entrance from the street</p>

<p>A big old lantern near the entrance</p>

<p>Cross the bridge to the gate to the approach to the temple</p>

<p>Engraved on the bridge are these kanji, which I assume are names of benefactors</p>

<p>A statue watching as you approach past the graveyards</p>

<p>This statue is also standing by the approach to the main halls</p>

<p>Near the main hall there's this welcoming committee</p>

<p>Watch out for the airborne guardian lions under the eaves</p>

<p>Some of the statues are hundreds of years old</p>

<p>This impressive grave stands in the west graveyard</p>

<p>This big lantern is near a side entrance</p>

A few minutes' walk from Mishima-Hirokoji station, Rinkoji is an appealing neighbourhood temple, one of the largest and most interesting in the area. You walk over the little bridge, through the gate and past a welcoming committee of statues, and come to handsome wooden halls, a ginormous standing stone lantern and a small but attractive garden, with a tiny carp pond which I wouldn't have thought to look for had I not heard the trickling of the water.

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.