Buraku-ji, Buddhist temple in Otoyo, Japan
Buraku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Shikoku region featuring a main hall with a distinctive multi-pitched roof, wooden walls, and paired entrance doors at its center. The building contains Buddha statues in its inner chamber and displays traditional woodwork and structural details.
The temple was established in 724 when a Buddhist monk built it as part of an imperial religious project, making it an early example of temple construction in the region. The main hall dates to a period when such structures were still uncommon in Japan.
The temple served as a center for Buddhist practice and remains a place where visitors can experience traditional worship spaces and their careful design. The interior layout reflects how these sanctuaries were arranged to guide prayer and contemplation.
The temple sits on a hilltop north of a river valley and is reachable on foot from the nearest railway station. Visitors should allow time to explore the grounds and note that interior access is available during specific hours.
The main hall is among the oldest standing structures on the island of Shikoku and preserves ceiling frameworks from centuries past. These architectural features display craftsmanship techniques that are rarely visible elsewhere.
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