Motsuji Temple

This was really beautiful because we had just visited Chuson-Ji temple and it was only a short walk over to this Motsuji temple. Again remarkable simplicity and beautiful especially with the snow all around. It is a Buddhist temple and is known for its beautiful Phoenix Hall which did not disappoint. The Phoenix Hall is a wooden structure built in the Amida style, which is characterized by its simple and elegant design. The hall is decorated with intricate carvings and paintings, and its interior is home to a large statue of Amida Buddha.The temple was founded in 998 by Fujiwara no Michinaga, a powerful courtier and politician during the Heian period (794-1185).

A very beautiful and scenic Buddhist temple that is designated as an UNESCO cultural/heritage site. There is a also a very large garden with a footpath that accompanies the temple and its buildings, which are placed around a scenic lake. The walk around the lake offers very different views depending on where you are on the path. You can see sites of where temples used to stand (some were burnt down in wars, etc.) as well as the ones that still remain to this day. During the walk around the lake on the footpath, there is a large bell in a belfry, a gentle stream that empties into the lake, as well as a set of strategically-placed rocks and stones made to resemble a landscape. Most definitely worth the entrance fee. Very highly recommended!

A gorgeous temple with a sprawling garden with various temples surrounding the pond. I got the chance to go on a beautiful day with blue skies, and even mid-August, you could already see the changing colors of the momiji to a fiery maroonish color and a warm, pleasant ochre. From the garden, you could peek through and see views of the town and mountains. Overall, a beautiful temple with a rich history.

There are two small temples here, but the original architecture has all been lost and all that is left is the Pure Land style garden around a large beautiful pond. It's serene and devoid of the commercialism of nearby Chusonji. You can feel the spiritual essence of the site even when there's no main thing to 'see' -- like the early Buddhist statues that represented the Buddha by just his footprints. If you're not familiar with the history, a guide could really help elucidate the meaning and significance of this sacred landscape.

Beautiful scenery and not crowded. Can enjoy the calm environment and relax.

江戸時代の芭蕉が更にはるか昔の平安時代の侍に思いをはせて俳句を詠んだお寺です。ロマンがありますねぇ。
Motsuji Temple was originally constructed in the Heian era (794-1192), and it is said that the temple used to flourish and have 40 halls and 500 monks' dormitories. Also, this temple has an 850-year-old Jodo garden, which took in outstanding gardening technique and style at that time.
Jodo means the world of Budda. So this garden was created to represent Pure Land or Heaven. Please walk around the heavenly garden thinking about the ancient people who made this and wanted to go to heaven after death.
The main hall's principal image is a statue of Yakushi, Buddha of medicine, stayed with the bodhisattvas of solar and lunar radiance.
Basho Matsuo, the most famous poet of the Edo period, also came here and created a haiku (the Japanese poetic form.) in the 1690s. It is translated in English here.
" The summer grass 'Tis all that's left of ancient warriors' dreams."
This is, "now only summer glasses are seen, but long time ago, the samurais were fought in this battlefield for their success and dreams." It is impressive that an old time poet created a poem for older time warriors, isn't it?

You want to see maples trees? Yes, just come here. Temple is small but garden size is amazing.

This temple is an absolute must when visiting Japan. Check out its history using the DK Eyewitness Travel book on Japan for details.

Lovely temple and park area. The trees are beautiful and the scenery is amazing!

Very pretty garden with not many tourists

Very nice and beautiful but it’s frozen

Magical place. A classic Japanese garden.

It's a beautiful temple here and most people come for the garden. Supposedly the garden was designed to be an image of heaven.

A relatively small temple, but a UNESCO site and off the tourist trail somewhat. Pretty lake (I went in Winter when it was frozen over), but easy to see that it would be very pretty in summer and autumn. Well worth a visit

The Temple, surrounding landscape and garden streams are beautiful!! We were fortunate to be there while the irises were in bloom. A sublime spectacle.

Beautiful temple! There were a lot of people there because of New Year's, but it was still very fun. The frozen pond was breathtaking.

The heart of the Japanese Bakufu creation story, and where the Kamakura shogunate all was made possible. A short distance away you can see the Northern most Buddha's face carved into the side of a mountain, and also visit the final location for Minamoto no Yoshitsune's last stand with his faithful partner Benkei at a mountain lair overlooking the Koromogawa river valley. This place is dripping with tragic history, blood and betrayal. At Motsuji you can read Nitobe Inazo's translation of Basho's ode to Kurou Yoshitsune:

The Summer grass
'Tis all that is left
Of warriors dreams

I highly recommend the audio pen rental for 500 yen which is very easy to use, and is chalk full of information in English.

Very spiritual place with amazing scenery

Beautiful and serene place. The walk around the lake has been carefully created to reveal delights at each turn

Wonderful place to visit!