Onsen-ji, Buddhist temple in Arima Onsen, Japan
Onsen-ji is a Buddhist temple with buildings positioned across a forested mountainside, including a Yakushi Buddha hall located at the lower level near the Kono-yu bath house. The structures are arranged across the grounds, forming a cluster of temple buildings that integrate with the natural landscape.
Monk Gyōki founded Onsen-ji in 724 during the Nara period, dedicating it to the deities credited with discovering Arima's hot springs. The establishment connected religious practice to the natural water source from its earliest days.
The temple centers on an eleven-headed Kannon Buddha statue that draws the attention of visitors and worshippers alike. This statue remains hidden from view most of the time, revealed completely only on rare occasions.
The temple is accessible on foot from Arimaonsen Station, with a walk of about six minutes from the station. Visitors can come throughout the year and explore the various sections of the grounds at their own pace.
In earlier centuries, the temple gave visitors a special ladle that served as a permit to use the local baths, representing an early form of access control. This practice directly tied the temple to the function of the baths and shows how the place once functioned.
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