阿弥陀寺, Buddhist temple in Shinasahi-cho, Takashima, Japan.
Amida-ji is a Shingon Risshu temple in Shin-Asahi, Takashima, with the mountain name Enmeizan and Amida Nyorai as its principal image. According to temple tradition it was founded by Prince Shotoku, was restored in 1322 by the monk Ritsuzan, and in 1336 became a prayer temple of Ashikaga Takauji. It stands a two-minute walk from the east exit of JR Shin-Asahi Station.
According to temple tradition, Amida-ji was founded by Prince Shōtoku and later revived in 1322 by the preceptor Ritsuzenshōnin. In 1336 it became a prayer temple of Ashikaga Takauji. In 1570, during the Kanegasaki campaign, the sniper Sugitani Zenjūbō hid here after his failed attempt on Oda Nobunaga and was captured by Isono Kazumasa, lord of Ōmi-Takashima, and executed.
Amida-ji belongs to the Shingon Risshu school, whose name combines Shingon esoteric teaching with the Ritsu (vinaya) precepts; the temple is headed by a resident priest and its main image is Amida Nyorai. The temple is a short walk from JR Shin-Asahi Station, and its grounds are used for regular services by local households rather than as a meditation centre for visitors.
The temple is easily accessible by public transportation from neighboring cities in the Kansai region and operates on regular visiting hours. It is best to visit on quieter weekdays when there are fewer crowds on the grounds.
The temple grounds sit near Lake Biwa, one of Japan's largest lakes, and connect with historical pilgrimage routes that pass through the region. This location has allowed many travelers to visit the temple as part of their spiritual journeys over the centuries.
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