The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tohoku gem that is Hiraizumi's Chosun-ji (Photo-essay)

Nine years ago today, the major disaster which has come to be known as the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami (as well as the Great East Japan Earthquake, Great Sendai Earthquake and 2011 Tohoku Earthquake) befell the northeastern section of Honshu, Japan's largest island.  Even before that terrible day, the Tohoku region of Japan had been among the ones that attracted the least international visitors.  And when I visited it last May, I found many of the region's attractions to be way less crowded than I can imagine that they would have been if they were situated in, say, Kanto or Kansai. 

Take, as an example, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Hiraizumi, over in Iwate prefecture.  The former capital of the northern branch of the powerful Fujiwara clan, it may now be just a small town with a population of just 7,440 or so  but it is home to temple complexes and grounds that, upon beholding them, one can believe made it rival Kyoto at one point in Japanese history.  Sadly (but also understandably), photos -- at least by members of the public -- are not allowed of the absolutely stunning jewel that is the gold-covered Konjikido but many other sections of the Buddhist temple of Chuson-ji -- with roots dating back to 850 AD, and a couple of remaining buildings dating back to the 12th century -- were.  

Built to represent the Buddhist Pure Land, it really did feel like a land of peace on the day I visited -- though it has seen great conflict, including that which led to the fall of the Fujiwara clan in the late 12th century, and fires along with natural wear and tear that saw the destruction of a good number of its halls.  Located up on a hill, the hike up to  yields visual dividends, as does a leisurely exploration of its expansive grounds, which uncovered bonus sightings, including some critter spottings and some late blooming sakura!

Konjiki-do's Hondo (Main Hall) may be its largest religious 

building but it is by no means it's most famous or spectacular

 

The official National Treasure that is the Konjikido (Golden Hall)

is located at the top of these stairs and inside the concrete hall --

yes, there actually is a whole, entirely gold-covered building in there!

 

The nearby Kyozo (Sutra repository) is physically way 

more modest but it is the one other building in this

temple complex that dates back to the 12th century

And lying within it is a shiny statue that gives

a little idea of what treasures lie within

some of Chuson-ji's other buildings

Two things I've become used to: the existence of

Shinto shrines within Japanese Buddhist temple compounds;

and their tending to be found at the top of a steep path!

 

 A view from Chuson-ji that helps give an idea of 

how high up the bulk of the temple comples is 

 

Not one but two skinks spotted 

on the grounds of Chuson-ji! 

 

The sighting that really got Puppet Ponyo excited and most 

ecstatic though were that of the still blooming pink sakura! :)