Kangi-in, Buddhist temple in Menuma, Kumagaya, Japan.
Kangi-in is a Buddhist temple in Menuma, a district of Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture, built in the Ishi-no-ma-zukuri style. The main hall displays detailed wooden carvings on walls and ceilings, while several smaller buildings complete the grounds and connect through well-kept gardens.
A military commander founded the temple in the 12th century as a place of religious devotion. The current compound emerged in the 18th century when a local carpenter rebuilt and ornately decorated the buildings over four decades.
The temple honors the Bodhisattva Kannon and carries the founder's name in its full title. Worshippers visit the compound regularly for prayer and meditation in the quiet halls adorned with elaborate carvings.
Buses run regularly from Kumagaya Station to the temple and the journey takes about 15 minutes through residential neighborhoods. Guided tours through the halls occur every hour and help understand the architecture and decorations.
The compound was the first structure in Saitama Prefecture to receive national treasure status. This recognition came over eight centuries after the founding and acknowledged the extraordinary craftsmanship of the 18th-century reconstruction.
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