Ryūsen-ji, Buddhist temple in Shimo-Meguro, Japan.
Ryūsen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Shimo-Meguro, Japan, arranged across several levels connected by stone steps, with a main hall and a waterfall at its core. The compound includes multiple prayer halls, a sacred waterfall, stone monuments, and gardens that together form a terraced religious complex.
A monk named Ennin founded the compound in 808 after experiencing a vision of a protective deity during a pilgrimage to Mount Hiei. The temple later became known as a center for fire rituals, drawing worshippers from surrounding neighborhoods over the centuries.
The site takes its name from the dragon enshrined in the side hall, while monks perform fire ceremonies each day before a black deity in the main building. On the twenty-eighth of every month, vendors line the approach selling sweets, grilled food, and small religious items.
The grounds open daily from six in the morning until five in the afternoon, with early hours offering a quieter visit when the gardens feel more calm. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as exploring the site involves climbing several levels of steps.
A grave on the grounds belongs to a scholar who introduced sweet potato cultivation to the country, and every October a festival in his honor serves cooked tubers to visitors. People can see the small stone lantern beside his tomb, donated by grateful farmers.
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