Gorgeously instagrammable greenish space
The views through the window are so beautiful as to take your breath away.
The gorgeous greens viewed from within Seirinji Temple.
Views from the Gobenden formerly visited by royal families are so instragrammably gorgeous as to be the talk of the town now over Social Media.
At Seiribji Temple you can pass quiet hours experiencing popular Shakyo and Zazen. Why not give yourself a treat?
Seirinji is a famous temple in Wakura Onsen
Nakura Onsen is situated roughly in the middle of the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Legend has it that a lone egret discovered the hot spring 1300 years ago.
Seirinji Temple is located about 5 minutes of walk from the center of Wakura Onsen.
Seirinji Temple is of a Soto sect of Buddhism known for its culture of Zazen, Zen meditation.
Fifty stone steps above is a parking lot, but the access path if so narrow, passable only a car at a time,
that you’ll be better off walking your way up.
We suggest you park at the toll-free parking lot near Souyu.
Souyu is the public bath just outside the Onsen inns – like one of those Sento (public paths) you see in every onsen.
Seirinji Temple was founded in Meiji 25 (1892) as a subsidiary of Eikoji Temple.
Eikoji Temple claims the most vital position in the history of the Soto sect of Buddhism originating in 1312 in Hakuishi, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Unlike such famous temples as Kingakuji, Horyuji, etc, in Kyoto and Nara,
Seirinji Temple is routinized for visiting certain spots in its compound without charge of any amount.
You are only to contact the temple in advance and visit any part of the temple for free with, if timing is right, the lady of the temple guiding your way!
If intent on accessing the temple compound,
you are advised either to contact the temple’s office in advance to that effect or to tell your hotel’s front counter to that effect in advance.
You can then enjoy every minute of your tour of the temple just as it is.
Beware that you cannot visit the temple if and when services are held.
There are more than the garden alone to add to your fun; the interiors are well worth your time viewing.
The room, wherefrom you enjoy viewing the garden, is called the Gobenden, whose interior is just as splendid.
The ceiling is made of the white cedar logged out of the Imperial Forest of Kiso and stages the most refined of masterly skills of artisans.
The bent parts are said to have been manually bent by them.
The Gobenden is a rest house built in the Taisho Era when Emperor Taisho, then Crown Prince, visited Wakura Onsen.
It used to stand along the coast but was later partially reconstructed and moved to where it stands today.
Seirinji Temple is one of the two places in Japan where you can see the structure formerly used by royal families.
The temple was designated National Cultural Property in 2017.
Right in the middle of the room is a black-lacquered table to create a water surface whereon the greens of the garden outside reflect so handsomely.
Those of you photographers should be better off paying admission to cover both Shakyo and Gobenden Tour.
Here’s the photo in question.
After your fun of experiencing either Shakyo or Zazen, the Chief Priest guides you to tour the Gobenden.
The most popular of all is to try intaking the greens of the garden outside through the crystal ball,
which, in turn, reflects upon the mirror-like surface of the table.
Isn’t it charming that the priest is there to coach you how to do all that?
Now, remember, such a “feat” is only possible when all conditions are met, that is the weather, timing,
and the way the crystal ball is set up and so forth.
The knowledgeable chief priest is there to reveal you the tricks.
The admission for Shakyo and Gobenden tour combined is ¥1500, effective October 1, 2020.
The tour takes about an hour; available for two or more persons.
You are to make reservation through the Wakura Onsen Tourist Association five days in advance.
The admission covers such items as the priest’s handwritten Goshuin, Gobenden postcard and a cute Wakutama towel not sold elsewhere.
You see, the views from the corridor side seasonally alter to charm the visitors.
After the garden, proceed onto the temple compound
The entire forest area behind Seirinji Temple is a park, an ideal ground for forest-bathing.
Stroll your way through the forest; all you hear is as the birds twittering all around and the bamboo leaves rustling in the wind.
Take a deep breath – to your heart’s content.
Up the 300-step stone stairs is a broad expanse of the sea and a belltower.
Rather hard to get up there but it’s worth your effort to go and toll the bell overlooking the Nanao Bay.
Tolling it thrice, and you are sure to have your share of good fortune.
Here’s how it looks from the Belltower.
Across the sea stretches a bridge, the Notoshima Ohashi. It models a seagull in flight.
Enjoy a superb contrast of the white of the bridge and the blue of the sea.
Now that you are touring Seirinji Temple, what about touring Shichi Fukujin (Seen Lucky Gods) as well?
There's an economical way of visiting Seirinji Temle, that is – the tour of Shichi Fukujin (Seven Lucky Gods) for which Wakura Onsen is well known.
Shichi Fukujin or Seven Lucky Gods are that many gods popularly worshipped in Japan since the Muromachi Era:
Ebisuten, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Hoteison, Fukurokuju and Juroujin.
To reserve the tour, you are to ask your hotel for the form to fill – of course, free of charge.
Then, you are only to visit them one after another as they stand at various spots in the town of Wakura Onsen.
Wherever in town you’ll find the stone images of Shichi Fukujin and framed plates thereby with their faces printed on.
You are to rub the paper onto the framed faces.
On the right of the photo, atop the cylinder, is the plate to rub the paper on.
You show the paper, with seven images rubbed on, to the hotel you stay to claim a gift”- different from one hotel to another,
I got a set of Wajima lacquerware chopsticks when I had my tour.
By the way, the paper for the stamp rally is available at your hotel.
Those non-lodgers can have theirs at the Wakura Onsen Tourist Association but not eligible for such presents.
So, beware.
Seirinji Temple houses one of the seven gods,the fortune-inviting Hoteison, who should help double your fortune!
So, make sure to get hold of hold his image rubbed on your rally paper.
Enjoy the gorgeous view of Seirinji Temple and get yourself a gift.
What a treat!
If you are a lodger at Wakura Onsen, this is an absolute must.
If you care to visit the Gobenden while touring the Shichi Fukujin, you do well by contacting the temple in advance.
In case you want to experience Shakyo, you are to contact the Wakura Onsen Tourist Association 5 days in advance to reserve your session.
The tour of Shichi Fukujin takes roughly an hour.
Browsing through Wakura Onsen amid a comforting sea breeze visiting one spot to another of the charming tourist sights – oh, what a gorgeous pastime that is!
JAPAN Travel Concierge
Qlip