Daihigan-ji, Buddhist temple in Akiruno, Japan
Daihigan-ji is a Buddhist temple in Akiruno, west of Tokyo, with a main hall, a bell tower, and a large entrance gate decorated with guardian statues and ceiling paintings in traditional style. Several buildings are arranged across the grounds, following the layout typical of classical Japanese temple architecture.
The temple was founded in 1191 by Hirayama Sueshige at the request of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura period. Over the following centuries, it was modified and expanded while keeping its role as a notable place of worship.
The temple holds wooden sculptures listed as nationally designated important cultural properties, including an Amida Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas. These carved figures are among the oldest surviving examples of Buddhist sculpture in the Tama region.
The temple is about a 15-minute walk from JR Musashi-Masuko Station and has an on-site parking area. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since the grounds cover several buildings and outdoor areas worth exploring at a slow pace.
Historical records show that the feudal lord Date Masamune once requested white bush clover plants from the temple gardens, pointing to ties this site had with powerful rulers far beyond the local area. Bush clover still grows on the grounds today, connecting visitors to that story in an unexpected way.
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