東光寺, Buddhist temple in Kofu, Japan.
Tokoiji is a Buddhist temple in Kofu featuring a preserved Buddhist hall from the Muromachi period, recognized as an important cultural property of Japan. The hall houses religious statuary and displays the craftsmanship typical of that historical era.
The temple was established as one of the Five Mountains of Kofu by Takeda Shingen but faced devastation when Oda Nobunaga's forces partially burned it in the 16th century. The Buddhist hall survived this attack and later bombing during World War II.
The temple houses a Yakushi Buddha statue and twelve guardian deities that visitors can see in their original sacred space. These figures show how religious beliefs shaped the meaning of this place for worshippers over centuries.
The temple grounds are easily accessible during daylight hours and can be explored in a couple of hours. Plan your visit for the bright part of the day when all details are clearly visible.
The wooden pillars of the Buddhist hall still bear sword marks left by Oda clan warriors during the 16th century attack. These scratches remain visible today as a direct trace of the violence the building survived.
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