Rinshō-ji, Buddhist temple in Sennan, Japan
Rinshō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Sennan featuring the Horin-no-niwa Garden, designed by landscape architect Mirei Shigemori. The garden displays Satsuki azaleas that bloom in late May, filling the grounds with soft colors.
The temple was founded in the first half of the 8th century by Gyoki, the priest who oversaw construction of the Great Buddha statue at Todai-ji Temple in Nara. Its establishment came during a period of growing Buddhist influence across Japan.
The temple holds an annual fire-walking ceremony each January where mountain ascetics perform rituals on burning coals. These practices are meant to bring protection and good fortune to visitors.
The temple is about a 20-minute walk from Izumi-Sunakawa Station on the JR Hanwa Line and has parking for around 40 vehicles. Wear comfortable shoes as access to some areas involves stairs and unpaved paths.
The temple grounds contain a Mini Shikoku 88-Temple Route created around 200 years ago as a condensed version of the 1,400-kilometer pilgrimage. This shortened path lets visitors experience the sacred journey on a smaller scale.
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