I consider myself fortunate to have had a chance to visit the temple of souls Chikurin Ji Temple Kochi. This Shingon Temple was founded by Gyoki in the early 18th century. House of beautiful sculptures and surrounded by a good amount of greenery, this place is a really good tourist destination.
I followed the stone path that lead to the entry of the temple through the dense woods. It was a fairly easy walk and the temperature was cool. As I entered the temple premises, I saw a number of ponds with loud bull frogs bellowing out of them. Beautifully designed shrines of different sizes complemented the place. The main square consists of the large temple with thatched roof. I further continued on the stone steps beside the smaller shrines which led to a vibrantly orange colored Pagoda.
It was a Tuesday when I visited the temple, the serene atmosphere of temple was not disturbed by the noises of people around. I was told by the temple staff that on weekends, there is a bus available to take the tourist to the top. I was not going to miss out the walk anyhow. I dodge my way from the path of a tiny cat staring at me as I entered the ancient wooden gate. It is amusing to see the compassion and caring of nature of people who shelter these homeless animals and nurture them. This temple has served as a refuge to Buddhist pilgrims too. This Japanese garden belongs to the 13th century and is a registered national treasure. It is great to spend time in this beautiful arrangement of rocks, ponds and pine trees. It was a lot more peaceful because I chose to visit the temple in late afternoon.
lingered at the temple for a while before I encountered white-clad Buddhist pilgrims paying a visit one their way around the long island. Overall, Chikurin Ji Temple is a picturesque structure where one can slow down the pace of life, introspect and rediscover the meaning of their existence. It will always be a memorable experience for me.