Shōfuku-ji, Buddhist temple in Shirahama, Japan
Shōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Shirahama featuring an elevated garden that overlooks the surrounding mountains and ocean. The grounds are accessed through traditional stone pathways that wind through the temple complex and connect different areas.
The temple was founded in the early 1700s and represents Japanese Buddhist architecture from the Edo period. This era shaped the building style and spatial layout that remain visible in the complex today.
The garden here carries the name Potalaka, referencing a sacred place in Buddhist tradition across Asia. The design of the space invites visitors to connect with this spiritual concept as they move through the grounds.
The temple sits in an area that is easy to explore on foot, with clear pathways throughout the complex. It is best to wear comfortable shoes, as reaching the elevated garden involves some steps.
The elevated garden creates an optical effect that makes visitors feel suspended between earth and sky. This unique spatial experience emerges from the height of the location and the careful framing of views toward the surroundings.
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