Yakuoin Onsenji Temple

It's a historic temple with many things to see, but it's unfortunate that it's not well maintained. I think it's best to follow the route in order. ① Sanmon Gate: This is the vermilion-painted Sanmon Gate that stands in the town of Yamashiro Onsen. ② Niomon Gate: Beyond the Sanmon Gate, at the main gate, the impressive "A-gata and Un-gata" Nio statues are solemnly enshrined. ③ Konpira Hall ④ Jizo Hall ⑤ Main temple ⑥ Kannon Hall (Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva): This hall houses a Buddhist statue made in the early Heian period (a prefectural cultural property). ⑦ Gyoki Bodhisattva Statue: It is said that Yamashiro Onsen began approximately 1,300 years ago when Gyoki Bodhisattva was on his way to the sacred mountain of Mt. Hakusan for training when he saw a crow healing a wound in a puddle. ⑧ Bell Tower ⑨ Yakuoin Onsenji Temple Main Hall ⑩ Water-Sprinkling Acala ⑪ Daishi Hall ⑫ Hakuju Kannon (Hakuju Kannon), representing 99 years old, is said to grant blessings such as longevity, health maintenance, and dementia prevention. The pilgrimage to the 88 temples of Shikoku begins at the feet of the Kannon. ⑬ Hakusan Gongen ⑭ Aiueo Path (Aiueo Path), located behind the temple grounds, is modeled after the 88 temples of Shikoku. It is a stone staircase leading from the grounds of Yakuoin Onsenji Temple to the hilltop of Banshoen Garden, the mountain behind it. ⑮ Five-ringed Pagoda (Gorinto) (Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property) Located on a hill behind the temple grounds, this is a memorial tower for Myokaku Shonin, who wrote the "Hannon-sōho" (method of sound manipulation), organized the sounds of the Japanese language, and laid the foundation for the "Aiueo Gojū-zō Chart."

There is no dedicated parking lot at Onsenji Temple, so I parked my car in the nearby public bath parking lot, which is free. Onsenji Temple is located close to Yamashiro Onsen's "Kosoyu" and "Soyu" baths, and appears to be the guardian temple of Yamashiro Onsen. The temple grounds have a tranquil atmosphere, allowing me to pray at my own pace. The temple was founded 1,300 years ago, and it feels like it has been protecting the hot spring resort since ancient times, with Yakushi Nyorai as its principal deity. In the mountains east of the temple grounds is the "Kaisando," a designated national important cultural property, and it appears to house a memorial tower for Monk Myokaku inside. I received a goshuin stamp at the main temple and then took a dip in the hot springs at the public bath before leaving.

This large temple is located near Yamashiro Onsen Soyu. The autumn leaves are beautiful. If you walk along the main street that leads from the soyu to the inn district, you will come to the mountain gate on your left. After a gentle climb you will come to the hall, and if you continue walking you will come to a small mountain gate and the main hall of Onsenji Temple. If you follow the approach from the main hall that leads in the opposite direction from the soyu, you will come to a water basin. The water basin in the shape of a hawk is very cool. There is a fairly large gate and stairs, so this might be the main gate. If you go down the stairs you will find the Rosanjin Memorial Museum.

There are Seiryu Yakuoin Onsenji Temple and Hattori Shrine, which are like guardian deities of Yamashiro Onsen. Onsenji Temple is built sideways. It was somehow difficult to get to, so I didn't visit. It is likely that it enshrines Yakushi Nyorai. The main deity of Hattori Shrine is Kukurihime-no-Mikoto, and it is clearly a branch shrine of Hakusan Shrine. It is a place of Hakusan faith, after all. It seems that it was once a large temple and shrine. Yamashiro Onsen Public Bath is very close by.

This ancient temple is said to have been built by the monk Myokaku at the end of the Heian period. Even today, nearly a thousand years later, Myokaku is widely revered, and a stone statue of him remains within the temple grounds. The lush green grounds are at their best during the autumn foliage season, but the fresh green leaves are just as beautiful. I was able to visit the temple with a serene feeling, thinking about the long history of Yamashiro Onsen.