圓照寺, Buddhist temple in Obama, Japan
Ensho-ji is a Buddhist temple in Obama with a main hall set within a garden that features a horseshoe-shaped pond and carefully arranged stones. The layout combines water and stone elements in a traditional composition that frames the religious building.
The temple was founded in 806 and relocated to its present location in 1444 following floods that made the original site unusable. This move coincided with a change in religious practice from Shingon to Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
The temple houses sculptures that reflect different periods of Buddhist craftsmanship and continue to draw visitors interested in this artistic tradition. These works show how the community has valued and maintained religious art over centuries.
The temple sits a few kilometers from the train station and is accessible by rental bicycle or car, with parking available on site. Visitors should prepare for varying terrain to fully explore all areas of the grounds.
The temple garden is home to forest green tree frogs, a sign that the natural environment has been preserved since the Edo period. These frogs serve as indicators that the grounds have been maintained as an ecologically stable space for centuries.
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