Kongō-in, Buddhist temple in Maizuru, Japan.
Kongō-in is a Buddhist temple in Maizuru featuring a three-story pagoda designated as a National Important Cultural Property. The grounds are surrounded by maple trees and traditional gardens that create a structured and serene setting.
The temple was founded in 829 by Prince Takagake during the Heian period and experienced major restoration under Emperor Shirakawa in the medieval era. This period shaped its present form and role as an important repository of cultural objects.
The name derives from a local mountain deity, and the temple displays artwork collected over centuries that reflects changes in artistic styles. Visitors can observe traditional craftsmanship in the wooden carvings and painted walls throughout the buildings.
The temple sits in a quiet area and is easily accessible on foot, with wide pathways through the gardens and steps leading to the pagoda structure. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as exploring the full grounds requires walking over uneven surfaces and inclines.
The temple serves as a station on a regional pilgrimage route that stops at multiple sacred sites, with different flowering plants visible depending on the season. Particularly in spring and summer, visitors can observe how the grounds transform through successive blooming periods.
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