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This is the cool temple near our house - it's about a three minute walk from our apartment. We both love going there, as it has a feeling of calm (and physical cool) that is refreshing after the crowded sweaty life of day to day Japan. It's a beautiful place, and we wanted to share some of its beauty with you.
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The 2nd in a series of 3 gates you pass through on the way through the temple grounds.
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Matt on the other side of the 2nd gate, looking silly.
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There are several statues in the 2nd gate - here Matt poses alongside a lion thing.
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2 huge statues face out from the front of the 2nd gate, a pair of 10 foot tall angry red guys.
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Debbie with a lion dude.
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Witness the anger!
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These things sure are cool.
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There's one on each side of the 2nd gate, facing in toward the temple.
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The third gate. This is where we saw a snake.
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Detail of the side of the roof.
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Detail of the 3rd gate roof (interior).
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A huge bell inside the main temple grounds.
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The structure that houses the huge bell.
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It really is a large bell (and a beautiful Debbie).
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Detail of the corners of the beams - we've been to the temple about 5 times but every time we see something new. |
Debbie resists the urge to strike the bell.
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Young Matt reposes before the bell.
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Matt between bell and ringer, wearing his
cool hat..
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| A structure near the main temple.
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Roof detail of entry gate.
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| The graveyard beside the temple is very
beautiful.
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Many large graves feature elaborate
stonework.
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| Another grave, this one with bonsai trees
and flowers.
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Debbie and a gravestone, in the old
graveyard (there's a small old graveyard, and a bigger new one).
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| Matt in the old graveyard.
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Matt looks serious.
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| Debbie in the serene gardens.
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Debbie with some sort of phallic looking tower.
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| A giant insence holder.
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Detail of the big pot.
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| Matt with a pot (and a big insence holder).
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Matt with prayer sticks in the new
graveyard.
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| A big rock thing with Japanese writing on
it.
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Matt tries to look serious.
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| One of the temple cats - it looked
pregnant.
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The main temple, which never seems to be
open.
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| Fantastic trees. Ah, to be surrounded
by nature, even if only for a short time, does wonderful things to the
mind and soul.
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There were quails here last time we visited
- a beautiful pair, wandering around through the roots of these trees
and the undergrowth.
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