It was quite the stately impression walking through Gokoku-ji. The outer area was very large and accented with beautiful sakura trees. I had the feeling this was an important Buddhist temple.
The stairs up to the inner gate 不老門, Furo-mon, had me imagining grand processions walking up them.
While the outer gate Nio-mon is much older, built a little after the main hall, Furo-mon wasn't built till April 1938.
Looking back towards modern Bunkyo. When the temple was established, the view would have been Edo sprawling below.
As for the main hall, I could see it once I was walking through Furo-mon.
The main hall 観音堂, Kannon-do.
Gokoku-ji was founded in February 1681 by the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. The temple was dedicated to the shogun's mother.
The orginal hondo was built in 1697. Enshrined at Gotoku-ji is a natural amber statue of the main deity Nyoirin-Kanzeon-Zo.
The space in front of the Kannon-do is huge with many objects to see. Like the 多宝塔, Taho-to, Treasure Tower.
Kannon-do is huge. The inside is really remarkable with the interior still intact from when it was constructed. Many of the objects are from that time.
Unfortunately it was closed on this day so I was unable to see inside. But there was much else to look at. So there will be a few more posts about Gokoku-ji.
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