Amidado Temple
temple
阿弥陀堂
Alongside the Amida Buddha, the principal deity of the Pure Land sect, two other deities are enshrined in this small hall: Yakushi, the Healing Buddha and the spirit of Kobo Dais.
This small temple along a Nagano mountain path holds more than it first appears. Each stone in the area tells a different story: a koshin cult stone splashed with yellow dye, three pillars inscribed with the chant Namu Amida Butsu (the oldest dating to 1692), and two Bato Kannon images placed by travelers whose horses died on the road. Inside, the enshrined images of Amida, Yakushi, and Kobo Daishi remain hidden inside a miniature shrine. A single pointed stone at the back marks the completion of a pilgrimage, placed there by someone who walked the whole route.
Remove shoes before entering any hall. Look for a shoe rack at the entrance. Carry a plastic bag for your shoes if none is provided.
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