Tōun-ji, Buddhist temple in Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Japan
Tōun-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nishi-ku, Nagoya, centered around a large green Buddha statue positioned on a platform supported by ten bronze elephants. The statue rises roughly 10 meters and forms the focal point of the temple grounds.
The temple was founded in 1502 by Oda Nobuyuki as a memorial to his father Oda Nobuhide. The site was relocated to its present location in 1714 during a period of urban reorganization.
The temple brings together Buddhist and Hindu traditions in a way that is rarely seen elsewhere. Visitors can observe a Shiva-Lingam from the 16th century and a shrine dedicated to Saraswati, showing how different spiritual influences coexist here.
The temple is easily reached from Motoyama Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line, with clear signs marking the path. The grounds are accessible and provide plenty of space to walk around and view the main structures comfortably.
The temple houses Japan's largest wooden drum, carved from a century-old camphor tree with a diameter of roughly 1 meter. This remarkable instrument reflects traditional craftsmanship and remains one of the most impressive examples of its kind in the country.
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