Nagano Attractions|A must-visit once in a lifetime~Japan’s oldest Buddhist statue~The charm of Zenkoji Temple
Attraction: Nagano Zenkoji Temple
📍Address: 491 Motozencho, Nagano, Nagano City
🕰️Business hours: sunrise to sunset (varies between 4:30 and 16:30 depending on the season)
💞Recommended reasons:
Located in #Nagano Prefecture, #Zenkoji Temple has a long history of about 1,400 years. It has no sectarian distinction. Since ancient times, anyone regardless of status, gender, or even religious sect can visit it. About 6 million tourists visit it every year. There are many legends circulating in Zenkoji Temple. The temple enshrines the oldest Buddha statues in Japan, the "Ikko Three Amida Tathagata". They are the Amida Tathagata in the middle, the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva on the right, and the Shichi Bodhisattva on the left. It is said that no one has ever seen this statue. The absolute secret Buddha.
Transportation strategy: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo and get off at JR Nagano Station. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the Zenkoji Exit of JR Nagano Station. Or take the bus to Zenkoji from Stop 1 at the Zenkojiguchi Bus Plaza, which takes about 15 minutes. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to walk from Zenkoji Station to the main hall.
With a history of 1,400 years, every corner of Zenkoji Temple has something to see. From Nagano Station to Zenkoji Temple Omotesando, there are the far-reaching "Eighteen Chou Stones" and "Forty-eight Types of Lanterns". They are derived from the particularly important eighteenth wish among the "Forty-eight Vows" revealed by Amida Tathagata. About 2 kilometers) is Nagano Station. Therefore, when Nagano Station opened, we searched for a location that was just "18-cho" away and set it as the location of Nagano Station. "Forty-Eight Lanterns" are twenty-four groups of forty-eight lanterns installed on Omotesando.
After walking along the stone road of the shrine to the territory, you will see the solemn statue of Nio "Niohmon", and then you will arrive at the Sanmon gate built in 1750 and designated as an important cultural property of Japan. There is a plaque with "Zenkoji" written in golden characters on the gate. In fact, there are 5 pigeons on the plaque, 2 of which are in "Zenko", the other 2 are in "Light", and the last one is hidden in "Temple". "inside. At the end is the national treasure "main hall", which is about 24 meters wide, 54 meters deep, and 29 meters high. It is one of the best wooden buildings in Japan. Three Amida Buddha statues are enshrined in the glass altar at the innermost part of the main hall. There is a statue of "Venerable Bintulu" inside. "Venerable Bintulu" is the number one disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha and one of the "Sixteen Arhats". Because Venerable Bintulu has super powers, there is a belief that "patients can be cured by touching the same part of the Buddha statue as their diseased area." Many people touched it, and the wooden Buddha statue sparkled with gold when touched. The outside is also very interesting. The first bell of the opening of the Nagano Olympics came from the Zenkoji Temple "Bell Tower" and the "Seismic Column" and so on.
Finally, of course, don’t forget that Omotesando’s “Nakamise Dori” (the section from Nio to Sanmon Gate) is full of delicious food, whether it’s a meal or a dessert, especially Nagano Prefecture, which is second only to Aomori Prefecture in terms of apple production, so you must eat it. Apple pie has a golden multi-layered outer crust and a whole piece of honey-soaked and sweet apple filling. You must also try the milk and egg-related delicacies produced in Shinshu (the old name of Nagano). Nagano Zenkoji Temple is indeed an important national treasure attraction in Nagano.