Water Temple, step by step

To water temple:

Honpuku-ji or popularly called Water Temple is on the island of Awaji-shima. The main and meeting halls were designed by ANDO. 

In the photo is the Akashi Strait Grand Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world completed in 1998. It was supposed to be 3,910 meters long. However, it stretched by one meter due to ground strain caused by the extraordinary Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on January 17, 1995. It connects KOBE, Honshu and AWAJI-SHIMA, an island between Honshu and Shikoku. Here we are, already on the island side. 

In front of the water temple:

Honpuku-ji is said to have been established toward the end of the Heian period (794-1185). The temple worships Yakushi Buddha, the Buddha of Medicine. Yakushi is almost all the time flanked by Gekko and Nikko Bodhisattvas, Gekko meaning the moonlight and Nikko sunlight. They take turns and protect you gingerly during the day and night. Here, too, the two Bodhisattvas serve Yakushi, though the three images are usually kept hidden and you cannot see the originals. 

The temple belongs to the Shingon sect founded by Kukai (literally meaning Sky and Ocean), a major esoteric Buddhism sect in Japan from the 9th century. His temples attract lots of pilgrims even though they are not always Shingon members in a strict sense of the word. In spring, many pilgrims come, tinkling their bells held in their hands. The sound is a reminder of the advent of warm spring.

Approach:

This path is on the right of the temple front. You see a blue sign in a distance, saying 水御堂 or water sanctuary hall.

Wall:

You are approaching the white concrete wall separating the secular and the spiritual. The wall is not imposing, rather friendly and gentle. Instead of denying your entry, the square opening in the wall invites you inward.

Inside the outer wall

A ray of light:

The light coming from afar.

Down you go:

In the middle of the lotus pond is an passageway to the main hall. The pond itself looks like a lotus leaf and you are descending down into the lotus itself.

Light from Pure Land:

Now in the basement. The circular corridor surrounding the round inner hall. The light is coming in from the west. It was 3:00pm. At the sunset, more light comes in turning the space completely vermillion.

Back to where you belong:

Now we'll go back to the world of white light.

Lotus pond:

Lotus and water lily will bloom in early summer. Their flowers have serene beauty and their petals are pure, though they come out of muddy ponds.

Inari Shrine:

Let us pass through a red gate called Torii seen in the right of the photo, and drop by at a Inari shrine on the grounds of the temple. It's common to have a Shinto shrine on the temple grounds and vice versa. The Meiji government tried to put an end to that practice to use Shinto as a national religion. They failed in the end and I'm happy about that.

Stone lantern and rocks:

They quietly stand here, next to a small Inari Shrine. They are history themselves.

I was all alone when walking on the premises of the temple. Left alone and so happy. Worth coming, taking 3 hours by car from my place in Hiroshima. One unforgettable day.