Adashino Nenbutsu Ji Temple Travel Report - Kimberly's 2008 trip

Experience

First Visit

Purpose of your visit

travel (sight seeing)

Impressions

Adashino Nembutsuji (化野念仏寺) is a small temple on the west side of Kyoto. Although it is small there are thousands (maybe 10s of thousands) of small grave markers crowded into a small area. The affect of these thousands of stones is quite stunning ... there is a sad feeling about them somehow.

Details

Adashino Nembutsuji (化野念仏寺) is a Buddhist temple on the north west side of Kyoto (Ukyo-ku). It was founded around 811 by somebody called Kūkai. It is located on a high hill overlooking the city. This area had many ancient cemetaries that had gone untended for some time. So in 1903 the temple gathered some 8,000+ grave markers and arranged them around the temple grounds. These stones are ancient ... you can see the affects of weather on the stones. It is interesting to see 8000 graves in such a small space and the effect is quite stunning.

Advice

This is a nice place to visit and is often not too crowded. There is a wonderful bamboo path leading to the temple ... the path alone is worth the visit. Wonderful photo oppourtunities here.

Recommended for...

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Tags

Adashino Nenbutsu Ji Temple     Kyoto     Japan     Japanese History     Kyoto Shrines And Temples