Myotsuji Temple 明通寺

Myotsuji is a beautiful Shingon sect temple tucked away in the hills of the city of Obama. Built in 806 by the military ruler at the time, Sakanoue Tamuramaro, who had a dream that this was the place for a temple, Myotsuji is a veritable trove of National Treasures.

The main hall and three-storied pagoda were built in the Kamakura period.

Myotsuji is accessible from Obama Station on the JR Obama Line by taxi in around 10 minutes.

The main hall, which was constructed in 1258, and the three-story pagoda, built in 1,270 are both incredible works of architecture, representing over 1,200 years of history.

Both buildings enshrine a number of Buddha statues, four of which are National Treasures. You can see the statues and colorful murals inside the three-story pagoda when it is open to the public for about two months in autumn.

Surrounded by some truly lush nature, Myotsuji has an utterly serene atmosphere. Walking around the temple grounds is almost like traveling to another world. With each season comes a different beauty—cherry blossoms in the spring, lush greens in the summer, red and yellow leaves in the fall, and white snow in the winter.