Article summary
・ A temple with 1200 cute statues of Rakan
・ A little-known spot with few tourists
・ Access is recommended by taxi from Arashiyama Station
What is Atago Nenbutsuji Temple?
Atago Nenbutsu-ji is a temple located in Arashiyama, Kyoto.
The sight of 1200 Rakan statues lined up is spectacular, and there are many pretty stone statues, making it a place where you can relax.
This time, I will introduce the charm of Atago Nenbutsu-ji Temple.
It was abandoned at one time
It is now a famous Atago Nenbutsu-ji Temple, but in 1950 it was temporarily abandoned due to the damage of a large typhoon.
In 1955, a monk and a Buddhist priest (a person who digs Buddhist statues), Kocho Nishimura, was selected as the chief priest, and reconstruction began.
At first, we aimed to make 500 Rakan-sama, but with the cooperation of general worshipers, 1200 Rakan statues were finally made.
Inside the temple, stone statues are lined up.
What is Rakan in the first place?
Among the Buddha's disciples, the saint with the highest rank is called "Rakan".
It is also called "500 Rakan" because the number of disciples gathered when Buddha was destroyed was XNUMX.
We often see stone statues and paintings with the theme of 1200 Arhats, but it is rare in Japan to see XNUMX Arhats.
Moreover, they are all hand-carved, so no one is the same.
There was also a cute stone statue like a mascot (?).
Introduction inside the temple
The site of Atago Nenbutsu-ji Temple is not large, but all the buildings have an atmosphere and are spectacular.
Jizo-do(Temple hall with a Kshitigarbha)
When you climb the slope from the entrance, the first thing you will see is "Jizo-do".
You can take off your shoes to enter Jizo-do.
Inside, "Atago Honji Buddha Fire Extinguishing Jizoson" is enshrined, which has the benefit of burning (preventing fire).
Fureai Kannon-do
"Fureai Kannon" is enshrined and can be touched.
The original color is golden, but it's too slippery to the touch.
Taobao
The Tahoto is visible in the upper left.
There are many stone statues in the foreground, but the expression is a little hard to see due to the growth of moss.
Congestion
It is located in Arashiyama, a tourist destination, but it is vacant because the number of tourists who come to such an outback is limited.
Even if you go to the autumn leaves season, there are only a few people like photos, so it is a recommended place even when you are tired of the crowd.
Travel time is 30 to 60 minutes
It's not such a big temple, so you can see it in about 30 minutes.
But when I start looking for "what kind of stone statue do you have?", Time goes by in a blink of an eye.
After all, I stayed for about an hour.
Admission time and admission fee
Opening hours | 8:00 ~ 16:30 | |
Closing days | open every day of the year | |
Admission fee | High school students and above: 300 yen, junior high school students and below: Free | |
Official Website | Usage guidance(Please check the latest information) |
You can see it early in the morning (8:00), so if possible, visit in the morning.
Access
Address | 616-8439 Fukaya-cho, Sagatoriimoto, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 2-5 | |
Phone | 075-285-1549 | |
Train + bus | 20 minutes by bus from Arashiyama Station | |
Number of parking spaces | About 10 units | |
Parking Fee | Free | |
Official Website | Access(Please check the latest information) |
Access is poor, so we recommend taking a taxi from Arashiyama Station. (Since it is about 3km, the taxi fare should be about 1000 yen)
Buses are often late, so it's best not to use them except in the morning.
On the way back from Atago Nenbutsu-ji, it is also recommended to walk to Arashiyama Station.
On the way back, there are "Giouji" which is famous for moss temple and "Adashino Nenbutsuji" which is known for the riverside of Sagami.
Map
Finally
Atago Nenbutsu-ji is not easily accessible, but it is a temple where you can feel relaxed with the stone statues that are full of handmade feeling.
There are few tourists and it is a little-known spot, so please visit it when you go to Arashiyama.
If anything, it is recommended for people after the second trip to Kyoto after visiting famous temples.