Hydrangeas lining the way to Chishiki-ji Temple's Thatched-Roof Historical main building
戸倉上山田温泉から車で５分、自転車で約１５分に智識寺がある。６月～７月にお寺の参道のアジサイが綺麗に咲いて、「あじさい寺」と言う別名。
今年は智識寺のアジサイは特に綺麗やって気がする。近場に行ったので行ってみたら、写真の様に紫陽花が並べて、彩に咲いていました。
その時に住職が挨拶してくれた。去年の４月から来ていて、若手の住職です。彼が来るまでは無人寺だったので国の重要文化財である秘仏、十一面観音の御開帳は年に一度だけだった。今は声をかければ、本堂を開けてくれるそうです。
本堂こそ、創建は1573年で国の重要文化財に指定されているそうです。茅葺屋根の建物で立派です。初夏の紫陽花の花と似合う。敷地内の木は秋になると赤や黄色に咲くのでそれはまた茅葺屋根の本堂と綺麗な合わせになる。
5 minutes by car or approximately 15 minutes by bicycle from our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada is the venerable Chishiki-ji Temple. It is also known as "Ajisai-dera", or 'hydrangea temple', due to the beautiful hydrangea plants that line the temple's main path.
Since I was in the area, I stopped by to check out the hydrangea flowers. This year the flowers seem to be especially colorful and abundant. I also got to meet the head monk. He's a young chap (not sure, but not even 30 years old?), and just moved to Chishiki-ji last year. Until then, the temple was un-manned, and its sacred image, an 11-faced goddess statue (a designated National Cultural Treasure) was only displayed once a year. Now, just knock at the office and if the monk is there, he will gladly show you the statue.
The temple's main building is also a registered National Cultural Treasure. The thatched roof building was built in 1573. Its magnificent wood construction and timeless beauty of the thatched roof contrast so beautifully with the colorful hydrangea blossoms. And again in the fall, the contrast with the autumn leaves is striking, too.
