Ryusenji Temple is the perfect place to refresh the mind and body during your trip to Fukushima Prefecture. Originally built in 1320, the temple underwent many name changes until being called Ryusenji. The beautiful main hall has not changed for about 300 years after being reconstructed due to a fire in 1758. Nowadays, the temple offers many interesting events and vistas to visitors.
There are many sights to experience at Ryusenji. Inside the main hall of the temple, you can see a cloth bag containing the temple’s treasures and a palanquin-shaped box hanging from the ceiling. This important Cultural Property also contains many wooden statues and make for an impressive time amongst history.
If you would like a more personal experience at Ryusenji Temple, why not try the Zazen meditation experience offered by the temple’s monks? Zazen is a short zen meditation experience and is offered at Ryusenji Temple on the first Sunday of every month, as well as the first and third Wednesdays of every month. Sit in silence and stillness for 20 minutes while you empty yourself of worldly thoughts and desires.
It’s best to contact ahead of time to make reservations if you’d like to experience their Zazen, temple yoga, or calligraphy. The nature surrounding Ryusenji Temple and the calming halls of the temple will welcome you and give you peace of mind and spirit. So shed the busy angst of your life and let Ryusenji Temple offer you a serene experience.
| Website | https://www.nihonmatsu-dmo.jp/en/plan/culture_7/index.html |
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| Contact | Nihonmatsu Tourism Association (+81) 243-24-5085 |
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| Estimated Visit Time | 1h |
| Opening Hours | Temple buildings open to the public from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Entrance Fee | Free to visit. There is a 2000 yen cost to do a Zazen meditation experience. |
| Access | Niitaki 1-81, Nihommatsu City, Fukushima Pref. 964-0003 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 10 min drive from Nihonmatsu I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway By Train: 30 min walk or 10 min taxi ride from Nihonmatsu Station (JR Tohoku Main Line) |
Kaiseizan Daijingu Shrine (開成山大神宮) is a Shinto shrine located in front of Kaiseizan Park in Koriyama City. The shrine was established in 1876 and is famous for its cherry blossom festival during the spring, as well as for its New Year celebrations, among other festivities.Three deities are enshrined at Kaiseizan Daijingu Shrine: Amaterasu, a Shinto deity believed to be the ancestress of the Imperial family of Japan; Emperor Jimmu, who according to Japanese mythology was the first emperor of Japan; and Toyouke-Ōmikami, the goddess of agriculture and industry in Shintoism.
Mogi Station is a small, unassuming train stop that transforms drastically in spring. Every year around mid-April, the bank of over 30 cherry trees south of the station bursts into full bloom, turning the area into a picturesque array of pink, white and blue. The blossoms are illuminated at night once darkness falls, drawing visitors and photographers from across the region.Only the final train of the day, arriving at 21:30 from the direction of Miharu, pulls into platform two, with the background of the blooming cherry trees. For many photographers and train enthusiasts, this is the shot they visit to get. Despite its modest size, Mogi Station has quietly earned its place as one of the most photogenic, if lesser-known, hanami spots in the region.
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