3.Chikurinzan Houonji Temple

A famous hilltop temple
that brings people together with smiling faces

　At the end of the atmospheric Houon Alley, there is a stone gate that looks like a torii gate. Ascend the stone steps and pass through the gate, where statues of Vaisravana (guardian deity of Buddhism) and Dhrtarastra (guardian deity of the East) gaze upon you, and enter the temple grounds. Houonji Temple sits atop a hill in the Nioza district, an area where many temples are located. This temple was built in 1602 as a family temple for Lord Kazumichi Inaba Kazumichi, the third lord of the domain, who took Princess Tara as his wife. The temple is also known as the birthplace of Nittchidatsu Fujii Nichidatsu, a Buddhist monk who was active in peace movements around the world, was ordained, and it is boldly taking on new challenges while also keeping in touch with its historical roots. The spacious and beautiful main hall was built anew in 2009. In addition to memorial services, events such as yoga classes and concerts are said to be held here. These events are the brainchild of the assistant head priest, who believes that “We do not want memorial services to be the start of people’s relationship with the temple, so we would rather that people enjoy connecting with others at the temple on a regular basis.” The idea may seem somewhat eccentric, but temples have always played an important role in various aspects of people’s lives, including weddings, funerals, and other ceremonial occasions. Take a moment to relax at this temple, a place where the past and the present come together to create a comfortable atmosphere.