菅谷寺, Buddhist temple in Shibata, Japan
Sugata-ji is a Buddhist temple in Shibata featuring wooden structures with tiled roofs surrounded by gardens that transform throughout the year. The complex integrates traditional architecture with natural landscapes that create different visual impressions across each season.
The temple was founded during the Heian period when Buddhism was becoming deeply integrated into Japanese society and government. This founding era shaped its role as an institution serving both religious and social functions across centuries.
The temple hosts regular Buddhist ceremonies and meditation sessions that show how this religious tradition continues to shape daily practices. These activities reveal how the place remains an active center of faith rather than merely a historical monument.
The temple is accessible by regular bus services from Shibata station and offers parking spaces for personal vehicles. Plan your visit around the seasons since the gardens present different conditions that influence the experience throughout the year.
On New Year's Eve the temple bell rings exactly 108 times, a ritual reflecting the Buddhist belief that this number symbolizes human desires needing purification. This New Year tradition draws visitors each year who come to experience this distinctive ringing ceremony.
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