So much lost at Hiraizumi's Motsuji, yet still so much left to appreciate there too (Photo-essay)

For some years now, I have averaged two trips a year to Japan -- usually in the months of May and September or October.  Not so long ago, I was thinking that I would not be able to visit there this May but could possibly do so in October.  Alas, now I'm much less positive about my chances to visit the Land of the Rising Sun even in the latter part of this year.

It's not so much what's happening in Hong Kong with regards to the Wuhan coronavirus; since even while the total number of confirmed cases went up to 914 today, with 24 new cases reported, the last few days have actually seen a decline in the number of new cases daily.  Rather, it's more so what's been happening in the world at large (with the worldometer having recorded over 1,288,500 cases of infection and 70,570 recorded coronavirus-attributed deaths at the time of writing) and Japan itself too -- with its government poised to declare a state of emergency in at least seven prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, starting tomorrow.

Frankly, the outlook for Japan -- as for much of the world -- right now is not great.  At the same time though, Japan is the last country I'd bet against to bounce back.  After all, this is the country that managed to survive a terrible triple whammy of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster back in March, 2011 and having returned from the dead after not one but two atom bomb attacks.  Of course this is not to say that there won't be scars from the experience.  Still, I remain hopeful that I will manage to enjoy days in Japan in the not too distant future as pleasant as the one I spent in Hiraizumi visiting UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites like Chosun-ji and Motsuji.

What's located near the bus stop at the foot of Chosun-ji?

Oh, just the grave of the legendary warrior monk Benkei! :O

 

A leisurely bus stop away, on the other side of the small town,

lies the 9th century temple compound of Motsuji

 

At it zenith, Motsuji was a 40-temple, 500-monastery compound

 

 Very few of the ancient buildings have survived to the present though,

with grave-like markers marking the spots where they used to be

 

Instead, these days, Motsuji's pride and joy is its Heian Period 

"Pure Land" garden meant to recreate the Buddhist paradise

 

Even if you're not Buddhist or all that religious, it is 

entirely possible to derive joy from being in this beautiful space

 

Apparently the majority, if not all, of those who look after 

this garden are faithful volunteers -- impressive, right?

 

A shady and peaceful spot that Puppet Ponyo 

decided that she particularly appreciated :)