Hōrin-ji, Buddhist temple in Himeji, Japan
Horin-ji is a Buddhist temple set on a hillside outside Himeji, featuring multiple buildings and meditation spaces arranged across the grounds. The site displays traditional Japanese temple architecture with curved roofs, wooden porches, and gardens that lead up the slope.
The temple was founded to preserve Buddhist traditions in the region and has served as a spiritual center since its establishment. Over centuries, it developed through various periods of Japanese history and was maintained by successive generations of monks.
The temple serves as a center for Buddhist practice where monks perform daily rituals and ceremonies. Visitors can observe morning services and join in seasonal celebrations that mark important dates in the Buddhist calendar.
The grounds are open to visitors daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from March through November. Reaching the site involves taking a local bus from Himeji Station and wearing comfortable shoes since the paths climb uphill to the temple buildings.
Visitors can obtain a goshuin, a prayer book stamp service where calligraphers hand-write the temple name and visit date. These personalized stamps in red and black ink become meaningful keepsakes for many who collect them across different temples.
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