波立薬師, Buddhist temple in Iwaki, Japan
Hatara Yakushi Temple sits near the Hatara coast with a striking red building displaying traditional Japanese architectural features. The complex connects via a bridge to Benten Island, where a sacred torii gate sits among distinctive rocky formations along the shoreline.
Founded in 806 by Buddhist monk Tokichi, the temple served as a spiritual center for fishing communities in the region. It remained an important gathering place where faith and maritime traditions became deeply intertwined over the generations.
The temple venerates Yakushi Nyorai, a healing Buddha said to have emerged from the ocean, drawing visitors and fishermen who offer prayers for protection and health.
The temple is easy to reach and has adequate parking available for visitors. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since exploring the grounds includes access to the island bridge and the rocky areas along the coast.
Local legend tells that the statue of Yakushi Nyorai washed ashore from the sea, inspiring the construction of the temple at this coastal location. This story of divine arrival from the ocean connects the place to the spiritual beliefs of those who worked the waters.
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