Words-and-Pictures: Togakuin

Note: This selection of Words-and-Pictures was made on September 13, 2001, as I walked on the Old Tokaido.

This modest temple is located between Oiso and Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture. These are Stations #8 & 9 respectively (from Tokyo) on the Old Tokaido Highway. You can read about my (disappointing) visit to Togakuin in my Logbook.

You may also view the six Jizo statues located on Togakuin's grounds.

These pictures will give you a feel for some of the many unspectacular but serviceable "suburban" temples throughout Japan. I must have walked by dozens on my journey, and seen hundreds in my life, very much like this one.

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The front gate

A general view of the precincts, including the hondo on the right, and the roof of the Kannondo peeking over the wisteria arbor on the left.

Another view of the hondo.

A closer shot of the Kannondo. -do means "hall," so this is the hall that holds the statue of Kannon. Hon means "main" or "true," so the hondo is the "main hall."

These six jizo live just inside the front gate. To meet each one personally, please look at a Words-and-Pictures BONUS.

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Posted September 26, 2019