Genkō-ji, Buddhist temple in Matsumoto, Japan
Genkō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Matsumoto featuring multiple stone pathways that lead to prayer halls decorated with traditional wooden carvings and guardian demon statues at its entrance gate. The compound spreads across a quiet setting with several structures that showcase classic Japanese temple architecture and design elements.
The temple was founded in 1441 by Masayasu Ogasawara and served as the family shrine for the Ogasawara clan during feudal times. This connection shaped the temple's development and the structures that stand there today.
The temple houses a Kannon statue in its main hall and serves as the first station of a 33-temple pilgrimage route dedicated to this deity across the Shinshu region. Visitors can observe how locals still come to pray at this sacred point in their spiritual journey.
The temple sits about 4 kilometers from Matsumoto Station and can be reached on foot or by rental bicycle available throughout the city. The route passes through residential streets, so visitors can take their time and explore the surrounding area.
The temple displays the sankaibishi emblem, three overlapping diamond shapes that represent the Ogasawara clan symbol found throughout its structures and gates. This recurring pattern becomes visible as visitors explore, offering a connection to the family that founded the temple centuries ago.
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