Motsuji Temple

Motsuji Temple, designated by the government as both a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, houses the foundation stones and other remains of many Buddhist buildings from the Heian period (794-1192). It is said to have had 40 halls and towers as well as 500 monks' quarters at the time, surpassing Chusonji Temple in size. The Pure Land Garden has been preserved in nearly perfect condition and is a rare place where visitors can experience the atmosphere of about 800 years ago.

Motsuji's Pure Land Garden, which aims to recreate the Buddhist realm on earth, is a masterpiece of the Pure Land style garden. It was built during the Heian period (794-1185) by Motsuji's second head, Fujiwara no Motohira, and completed by Fujiwara no Hidehira, the third head of the Fujiwara clan.

At the center of the garden is "Oizumi-ga-ike Pond," which has a comma-shaped island in the middle of the pond. The bridge piles from that time are still on display in the Treasure House as proof that a bridge was built across the island. The "Suhama," which depicts a beautiful coastline, the "Tsukiyama," which depicts a cliff, and the "Rock Grouping of a Promontory and an Islet," which depicts a rough seashore, are all examples of garden techniques that integrate the natural landscape.

Motsuji's Yarimizu (a waterway used to draw water into the pond) is Japan's only remaining Heian period (794-1185) Yarimizu and is extremely rare. "Gokusui no En" is an elegant Heian-period poetry party held every year, in which people compose waka poems as a sake cup flows by on the Yarimizu. The participants dress up in Heian-era costumes to transport us back in time.