Kikoji Temple - Nara

I don't have a habit of paying an admission fee to visit, so I'm satisfied with taking pictures from outside the fence. It is a building like Todaiji Temple.

I saw it in August 2017. I went on foot from Kintetsu Amagatsuji Station. Kikoji Temple was founded by Gyoki Bosatsu in the 5th year of Yoro (721) and was called Sugawara Temple in ancient times. After that, when Emperor Shomu visited the temple in the 20th year of Tenpyo (748), the light was emitted from the principal idol, and the emperor who was pleased with the fact gave him the temple name Kikoji. The main hall is said to be the Great Buddha Hall of Attempts and is said to have been rebuilt in 1544. The sitting statue of Amida Nyorai is designated as an important cultural property because it was made during the Heian period. At this time, I was able to see the statue of Ugajin, the secret Buddha enshrined in Benten-do. However, the red stamp of King Ugajin was written down. On New Year's 2019, I was able to write the red stamp of King Ugajin at this time.

At the invitation of a friend who wants to see the lotus. Visit in early August Personally, I was more interested in the Ugajin statue, which is a secret Buddha, than the lotus. It seemed that the book was opened according to the lotus season. At this time, the statue of Ugajin was moved to the temple office due to a leak in Benten-do, which is always enshrined. The face of an old man on the body of a snake. It was a unique figure. Please go to see it when the time is right. I also saw Benzaiten with a sword for the first time (Ugajin is on his head, so is this the main body?) At the temple office, an old man who usually stays at Yakushiji was written with a red stamp. It was a very good writing, so I just watched it. In addition, I received a red paper Ugajin stamp. (Is it only during the opening period?) A temple admission fee is required at the entrance. There is a parking lot in front of the entrance.

It was one of the 49 temples built by Gyoki, who built Todaiji Temple in 721. It was originally called "Sugawara Temple" because it was located in Sugawara no Sato, and its main hall served as a reference for the construction of the Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji Temple. It is said to be the Great Buddha Hall. In 748, when Emperor Shomu visited here, he was delighted to see a mysterious light emitted from the principal image, and changed the name to "Kikoji" given by the emperor. The following year, Gyoki was 82 years old. He died at the temple. In the Middle Ages, it became the Kofukuji Sueji Temple with Sugawara Tenmangu as the guardian shrine. I saw the completion of the project, but during the Warring States period, I was often hit by war, and many temples were burned down, leaving only the main hall. In the Meiji era, it became Yakushiji Sueji, and is now the main temple of Risshu, to which Yakushiji belongs. The "Lotus Road" is set up, which is famous as a lotus temple and connects the neighboring Yakushiji Temple, Toshodaiji Temple, and Saidaiji Temple. On 21/06/27, follow the "History Road" set by Nara City in 1972 from Yakushiji Temple, stop at Toshodaiji Temple and Toshodaiji Okunoin Temple, visit Kikoji Temple, and then visit Sugawara Tenmangu Shrine. After that, I headed to Saidaiji Temple, but I was able to enjoy the lotus blooming in many pots placed in front of the main hall of Kikoji Temple.

July 11, 3rd year of Reiwa (Sun), Today, I came to Kikoji-san because the lotus flowers are in full bloom. The number of parking lots is small and the lines are narrow, but the person in charge will tell you to stop here and you can park. The parking fee was free and the entrance fee was 500 yen per adult. There is no pond, but it was a beautiful sight with many lotus flowers blooming beautifully in potted plants. ...... It's wonderful ♪ (^^) /

I found it by strolling around when I visited the nearby "Sugawara Tenmangu". It was a pity that the elevated Daini Hanna Road was erected in front of the magnificent mountain gate (Nandaimon) and I couldn't see the magnificent view. Founding of Gyoki Bodhisattva (722). And it is a historical temple called the land of Gyoki Bosatsu's extinction (749). The main hall (Kondo) is very similar to that Todaiji Daibutsuden, so the nickname "Trial Daibutsuden" remains. It is also called "Sugawara Temple" because it is located here in Sugawara and is within the territory of "Mr. Sugawara".