本応寺
Honno-ji is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, easily reached on foot from two nearby train stations. The grounds include a large main hall with dark wooden construction, a traditional storehouse for Buddhist scriptures with a rotating wheel collection, two large red guardian figures at the entrance, and a gate built in 1808 that marks the temple's access.
The temple was founded in 1615 and belongs to the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, which emphasizes chanting and the Lotus Sutra. Over centuries, the structure has undergone various changes while maintaining its historical significance, which visitors can sense today.
Local worshippers visit the temple to pray and find comfort within the Nichiren Buddhist tradition. The regular ceremonies and festivals that take place here remain woven into the daily life of the surrounding community.
The temple grounds offer a free parking lot that can accommodate about ten cars. Most visitors arrive on foot from the nearby train stations, which requires about a 20 to 30-minute walk, or they can use a local bus that stops nearby.
The sutra storehouse has an unusual architectural design that makes it appear to have two levels, though it is actually designed as a single-story structure. This visual peculiarity adds to the charm of the place and makes the building notably distinctive to visitors.
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