塩野毘沙門堂, Buddhist temple in Yonezawa, Japan
Shiono Bishamon Hall is a Buddhist temple in Yonezawa with traditional Japanese architecture featuring spacious interior halls and a distinctive Niomon gate. The buildings were constructed using ancient carpentry methods and house religious statuary within.
The temple was founded in 809 when monk Tokuin discovered a sacred spring and built the hall to enshrine a Bishamon statue. The site remained an important religious center for the region across many centuries.
The hall draws people seeking blessings and a moment of reflection within its spaces. Visitors encounter traditional religious objects and practices that connect the community to this place throughout the year.
The temple is accessible by bus or taxi from Yonezawa Station, with parking available for visitors arriving by car. Walking around the temple grounds is straightforward and does not require special preparation.
Beneath the altar sits a sacred well that local tradition credits with saving the Bishamon statue during a fire in 1488. This hidden water source gives the temple a distinctive and storied past.
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