Yamadera

 

Mountain Temple

(Risshakuji Temple/ Yamadera)

Yamadera (Yama=Mountain+dera=temple)

  With the combination words from local people, Yama  is mountain and dera is temple in english. So when people put it together it's called Yamadera. 

Yamadera is an unofficial name,  the official name for Yamadera is Rishhakuji.

 

Location

Yamagata is in (Western part of) Tohoku region, the northen part of Japan. Yamagata is a small town,  the city is closed to Sendai which mean that tourists can stop at Sendai first and then go to Yamagata (Yamagata, 2013). 

Due to great surrounding mountains and rich in nature of the environment such as natural springs and hot springs, these factors are what make Yamagata to be known as the city's beauty from nature.


*View of the town

Yamagata has the exact location  at Latitude: 38°14′26″ N and Longitude: 140°21′47″ E


The location of the temple (Yamadera) is located Northeast of the city, along the river side which surrounded by mountains. As you can see in the picture, the town is small and full of traditional cultures. They have got shops there such as souvenirs and local cuisine such as Soba.

*Soba


How to get there!

Direction: Taking train is the easiest means of transportation because it takes at least 3 hours to get there. Let's start at simple Shinganzen station, from Tokyo station to Sendai Station located in Miyagi
And from Sendai Station to Yamadera Station located in Yamagata. From the train station, take a bus to Zao Onsen and then walk a little bit (think of enjoying cool breeze) to the temple.

The distance from Tokyo to Yamagata is estimated to be around 540 k.m.



The City

The city has developed during the middle 15th century. The building in the city contain British Renaissance-style Bunsho-kan hall and various other Western style brick buildings. 

     

Picture of Yamagata during autumn and Winter Period

Yamadera in autumn


Yamadera in Winter time

History

A Tendai Sect (Mahayana budhhist temple) which is one of the holiest temple in Japan. The temple was built by Jikaku Daishi in 860 because Daishi was assigned to move up to the North by Seiwa empire during the Heian period. The year 600-800 were the most succesful years for the temple, because it was a center of buddhist in Tohoku region. Moreover, all over the mountain, there have got more than 300 monks living and meditating. Until the World War's influence, this temple got burn down. It got resurrect again and is once again known for the center of buddhism (Tendai Sect). 

From that day to today the temple has been almost 1000 years old already.Yamadera has been known for the poet Basho, who wrote poem about the silence and peaceful of the area in Yamadera (Mebphirun, 2012). Basho's poems is very famous nowadays in Japan, and his work spread througout the country; every high school has to study about his poems including the one he wrote for Yamadera as well.

The Stature of Daishi

 Why do people go there

• The temple is for Buddhism
• Beautiful scenery
• Tourists
• Relaxation
• Meet the legendary poets. 
• Follow the legend

Yamadera, land of poems and dreams

   Yamadera contains two levels to visit: base level and upper level.
   

     First at the base of the mountain, there are a few buildings to stop such as Konponchudo Hall or the temple's main hall. Inside the hall, the collection of statues and flame that have been burning since Yamadera's establishment are exhibited.Outside the hall located the statue of Basho, the greatest poem writer known in Japan.

    

 


*Spots in Yamadera for tourists
There are 14 stop spots which are full of history. Each stop spot tell brief history of the area.  


The main hall

Note: you can pay respect as a Buddhism but do accordingly to the Japanese traditional way.
First, bow two times in front of the statue, then clap your hands two times, wish and bow again one more time. 

*How to pay respect to Lord of Buddha (ไหว้พระ).


*Stature of Basho


        The upper part is where visitors have to pay 300 yens and this is where visitors have to climb up more than 1000 stairs to reach the top. On the way, there are many statues, grave yards and several spots to take a rest (Yamadera temple, n.d.). 


*View from the top


Reference:

Mebphirun A. (2012). Guide to Japan Book 2 adventure. Bangkok: Provision.
Yamagata. (2013). MaruMaru. Retrieved from http://www.marumura.com/travel/?id=3650


Yamadera Templ. (n.d.). Japan-guide. Retrieved from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7940.html


Credit picture: http://pantip.com/topic/31543449
http://2g.pantip.com/cafe/blueplanet/topic/E12330750/E12330750.html