Three in our group went to Disneyland and Erica and I went back to Narita. Specifically, the Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple.
There was a bird bath (or what I would call a bird bath, not sure exactly) by the gate that we entered. I believe we entered by the Shakado Hall.
The carving on the Shakado Hall was amazing! It was all behind mesh, so I could not get close to it, but what I could see was awesome.
This is the Great Main Hall. There was a lot going on both in front of the hall and inside, so Erica and I did not want to intrude.
The Three Story Pagoda was pretty. The attention to detail blew me away.
Each story of the pagoda is highly detailed. If I could, I would have walked all the way around it and looked at it for hours. But, we had things to do that day and only so much daylight.
This is the Shotoku-taishi-do Hall. The image of Shotokutaisi - worshiped as the father of Japanese Buddhism, is enshrined in this hall.
I think this is my favorite structure that I saw today. Well, besides the pagoda. It is in a peaceful courtyard.
On the hill behind the Great Main Hall were dozens of statues.
Erica and I climbed up the stairs to the Naritasan Park.
Erica and I took our time meandering through the park, following any trail that looked interesting.
Interesting use of plants for a centerpiece near the Great Main Hall.
Erica and I climbed the stairs behind the Great Main Hall. This is the Gaku-do Hall. This hall is "important cultural property". I believe there are votive tablets in this building.
This is the Kaizando Hall. The temple was founded in 940 by Priest Kanjo. The Kaizando Hall was built in 1938 for the temple's 1,000th anniversary.
Inside the Great Peace Pagoda.
After Erica and I walked around the Pagoda a few times, we were starving so we left the temple. We went to the same udon place that Kaylee, Jess, and I went to after we picked up Kaylee.
25 December 2016
Erica and I went to Narita to pick up her sister from the airport.
We went to Fukusen-ji and wondered around.
We walked to the temple and took our time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
The sun light was streaming into this clearing and it was beautiful.
This is the bonsho of the Fukusen-ji complex.
Statues in the complex.
After the temple, we picked Jess up at the airport and made our way back to Matsudo.