[Hiraizumi Walk] Motsuji Temple ~ Half-day course ~

Motsuji Temple, the special head temple of the Tendai sect, is called Iozan and was opened in 850 by Jikaku Daishi.
In the late Heian period, the Oshu Fujiwara clan's second and third generation, Motohira and Hidehira, built magnificent temples such as Kondo Enryuji and Kashoji, which numbered 40 halls and pagodas and 500 monks' quarters, making them the largest temple in Japan. It was called the second sacred place.
Unfortunately, the temple at that time was burnt down due to repeated disasters, but today the " Jodo Garden " centered around Oizumigaike Pond and the remains of the temple from the Heian period have been preserved in almost perfect condition, and the country has designated it as a special historic site. It has been designated as a scenic spot.

It is said that the Kanjizaioin Temple ruins adjacent to the east of Motsuji Temple were run by the second wife of Motohira. The temple area is 120m from east to west and 240m from north to south. The square garden pond (Maizuru-ga-ike) with rounded corners is dotted with rock formations made of piled up megaliths similar to rough seashores, a small Suhama beach, and a long central island running east to west. On the north bank is a plaza, towards which are the remains of the Great Amida-do Hall to the west and the remains of the Small Amida-do Hall to the east. On the east bank, there are also the ruins of the bell tower and the ruins said to be Fugendo.

Kinkeisan is an elegant conical mountain. There are also legends that say, ``Hidehira lined up his laborers to the Kitakami River, carried stones, and built the mountain in one night,'' and ``Hidehira buried a pair of golden chickens, a male and a female.''
Several sutra mounds were built on the summit of Mt. Kinkeisan. However, it was stolen in 1930 and is currently in a partially destroyed state. The artifacts excavated from that time are kept by the Tokyo National Museum and Motsuji Temple.

On April 14, 2009, Hiraizumi Town integrated the Hiraizumi Local Museum and the Town Cultural Heritage Center to open the Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center. As a guidance facility that provides an easy-to-understand introduction to Hiraizumi's cultural heritage, and as a visitor center for sightseeing in the town, it introduces a wide range of Hiraizumi's history and culture.