| |
Introduction
A temple town with a rich history, now a gateway to Japan
Narita City, with the Tone-gawa River running on its north side,
was first developed as a temple town of Naritasan Shinsho-ji,
which was founded in 940. Now, it is a gateway to Japan, hosting
New Tokyo International Airport (Narita Airport), which has been
growing since its opening in 1978.
While 50 airline companies use this airport, 25,410,000 travelers
use it in a year and the largest amount of cargo of any airport
in the world is handled there. Terminal 2 was newly open in 1992.
At present, the project of parallel runways is proceeding with
a target of completion in the year 2000. The city, thus, has two
different faces: one as a scenic town with a rich history, encompassing
Lake Imba-numa, a prefectural nature park, and Boso Fudoki-no-oka,
where about 120 big and small ancient tombs are found, and the
other as a modern town with an international airport. Narita is
expected to keep growing in various aspects as an international
cultural city.
In 1998, Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple will celebrate the 1060th
anniversary of its foundation and the 1000th anniversary of its
founder Priest Kanjo's death. There will be several events, from
April 28th to May 28th, including the memorial unveiling of their
treasured Buddhist image.
There is a tourist information center in JR Narita Station. Since
they have tourist maps and various brochures and you can get kind
advice, it may be wise to go there first to make a plan for the
day in Narita before you start sightseeing.
Open 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. throughout the year / 0476-24-3198
Attraction
Guide
Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, attracting people's strong faith
for a long time
The temple has been close to people, for more than a thousand
years since its foundation by Priest Kanjo in 940, as the head
temple of the Chizan Branch of Shingon Sect and also as 'Fudo
of Narita.' The principle image of the temple is the statue of
Fudo Myoo, which was carved by Kukai (founder of the Shingon sect).
Being famous for having a large number of visitors on New Year's
day, the temple is visited by many people throughout the year.
There are important cultural assets, museums and a library scattered
around in the spacious precincts and the Naritasan Park located
next to it, and they are all worth seeing. / 0476-22-2111
* 20 min. walk from JR or Keisei Narita Station
Sanju-no-to
(the three storied pagoda)
Going through the main gate of the temple and up to the top of
the steep steps, you first catch sight of the gorgeous three-storied
pagoda standing to the right of the main building. There are cloud
and water patterned engravings at the back of the eaves of each
story, which were restored in 1977 by precisely following the
colors and the method of lacquering shown in the color use manual
of 1803, which was kept in the Naritasan Buddhist Library. The
restored engravings are precious as they retain the visage of
how it used to look in the mid Yedo Period (1603-1867), and they
are designated as national important cultural assets.
Shaka-do Hall
It was built in 1858 and used to be the main hall of the temple
before the present one was built. The principle image here is
Shaka Nyorai (the historical Buddha). The wooden walls of the
hall have marvelous engravings of five hundred rakan (Buddhists
who attained the highest rank of religious wisdom equal to the
Buddha's). It is a designated national important cultural asset.
Komyo-do Hall
It was built in 1701 and was a main hall of the temple before
Shaka-do Hall was. Its principle image is Dainichi Nyorai (the
great sun Buddha), who expounded the teachings of Shingon Mikkyo
(esoteric Buddhism). The building has a thatched roof of the Irimoya-style
and vivid vermilion walls. It is a designated national important
cultural asset.
Gaku-do Hall
The hall is for displaying votive tablets and pictures. The present
building is the second one which was built in 1861. The first
building was dedicated by Ichikawa Danjuro VII with a tablet of
his figure on the stage, but it was burned down in 1965. The present
hall is an Irimoya-style, tile-roofed building and is designated
as a national important cultural asset.
Naritasan
Shotoku Taishi-do Hall
It was built in 1992 to throw light on the virtue and the great
achievement of Prince Shotoku, a distinguished statesman of the
Asuka Peiod (593 - 710).
Dai-to Pagoda
The awe-inspiring pagoda, standing at the back of Komyo-do Hall,
was built in 1984. It expresses the world of mandara, a symbolic
diagram used in esoteric Buddhism, which represents the fundamental
doctrines of Shingon Mikkyo, mutual respect and dedication.
Issai-kyo-do Sutra Hall
Inside the hall, there is a huge revolving storage chest in which
a whole set of Issai-kyo sutras are stored. Although it is no
longer permitted to spin the chest for fear of damage, it is said
that if you turn it around three times, making wishes, your wishes
will come true.
Sogo Reido Sanctuary (Meishozan Tosho-ji Temple), the family temple
of Sakura Sogo
Tosho-ji Temple, now famous as the Sogo Reido Sanctuary, was originally
an old temple of the Buzan Branch of Shingon Sect, which was built
for the repose of fallen soldiers' souls when Sakanoue-no Tamuramaro,
the Barbarian-subduing Great General, conquered Boso (the present
Chiba Prefecture).
In 1652, Kiuchi Sogoro, the headman of Kozu Village (the present
Narita City) made a direct appeal to the shogun, which was prohibited
by law, in order to save peasants who had been groaning under
a bad crop, heavy taxes, and oppression by the domain governor.
He had no other choice. As a result, he and his four children
were executed. This was the so called, 'Sakura Riot.' Since then,
he has been called 'Sogo-sama,' and the incident has been dramatized
under the name 'a righteous man, Sakura Sogo,' which moved many
people to tears.
In Tosho-ji Temple, the family temple of Sakura Sogo or Kiuchi
Sogoro, there are not only the graves of him and his sons but
also the memorial hall of Sogo (Sogo Goichidaiki-kan), where articles
left by him and materials are displayed. The temple is also famous
for its cherry-blossoms and it is thronged with people in cherry-blossom
season. / 0476-22-2111
* 15 min. walk from Keisei Sogo Sando Station
New Tokyo International Airport (Narita Airport), used by more
than 300 million travelers in total since its opening in 1977
As the access from central Tokyo is becoming more and more convenient,
the airport is being improved year after year as a gateway to
Japan. More than 330 planes and 600 thousand travelers come in
and out every day. The amount of international cargo handled here
is No. 1 in the world and the number of travelers No. 6. The airport
certainly plays an important role as an international airport
while creating various scenes of people's meeting and parting
every day. From the observation deck, you can see, close at hand,
the take off and landing of planes of fifty airline companies
from thirty-eight countries. (Free of charge for observation.
An ID such as driver's license or passport is necessary.) /0476-32-2802
* Get off at JR or Keisei Narita Airport Station or Airport Terminal
2 Station |
|
|
