Myorenji

A tranquil temple in Shimizu

Peter Sidell Feb 04, 2016 - 1 min read

<p>Some of the many cute animal statues</p>

<p>Not so cute: a carved dragon under the eaves of the main hall</p>

<p>Another building in the temple grounds</p>

<p>Buddhist statues line up in welcome</p>

<p>Another statue in her small shelter</p>

<p>More little animals by the raked gravel garden</p>

A few minutes' walk from Shimizu station in the suburbs of Shizuoka, Myorenji is a small, appealing Buddhist temple with a restful atmosphere. There are plenty of interesting statues dotted around the grounds: a line of serene Buddhist figures, a menagerie of cute animals, then also a fierce-looking dragon carved under the eaves of the main hall. While not an outstanding example of its kind, it's still a pleasant place to come and look around if you're in the area.

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.