Harima Kokubun-niji

What it is

• A Shingon Buddhist temple established following Emperor Shomu's 741 edict.
• The site is a designated National Historic Site located on the Ichikawa River terrace.
• A historic park called Furusato Rekishi no Hiroba now occupies the temple grounds.
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi donated land to this religious site in 1587.

What to see

• Excavated ruins of a pagoda and main hall with a layout similar to Todai-ji.
• The current main hall which was moved from the grounds of Himeji Castle.
• A stone pagoda from the Muromachi period designated as a prefectural cultural property.
• Nunnery ruins located approximately 600 meters north of the main temple site.

Getting there

• The temple is a seven-minute walk from JR Gochaku Station.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.