Tanzan Shrine, Shinto shrine in Sakurai, Japan
Tanzan Shrine is a Shinto religious site in Sakurai, Japan, with fifteen separate buildings spread across a forested mountain slope, all following the Kasuga architectural tradition. The red halls stand among cedar and maple trees, connected by stone steps and narrow paths.
A Buddhist temple arose here in 678, until Meiji reforms in the 19th century converted the site into a Shinto shrine. The pagoda was rebuilt in the 16th century after a fire and has remained since then.
The name Tanzan translates as talk on the mountain, recalling a meeting that led to major political change in the 7th century. Followers still tie wooden plaques to racks near the entrance, writing wishes in black ink on smooth wood surfaces.
You can reach the site by taking a local bus from Sakurai, passing through hilly countryside before arriving at a stop near the entrance. Admission requires a fee paid on arrival, and pathways between buildings can be steep in places.
The thirteen-story pagoda is the only one of its kind within a Shinto shrine in all of Japan, rising 17 meters (56 feet) into the canopy. Its timber framework dates from 1532 and still shows the original construction without modern intervention.
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