Somewhere in the boring Tokyo suburb of Niiza, in Saitama Prefecture, lie the beautiful grounds of Heirinji Temple. Those grounds are famous for their autumn colours. But a visit in mid spring is well worth it. The trees, mainly Japanese maples, are at their most tender green. Visitors are few and one is more likely to see Zen buddhist monks than a tourist. This is my favourite temple in the Tokyo area.
Information on how to reach the temple and its basic history can be found at
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/heirinji
Here are a few photos taken during my 2017 visit in late April. Big thanks to Hideko for making us discover this beautiful place!
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| Near the main building of the temple. |
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| Hidden bell. |
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| Up and down under the maples. |
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Akamatsu, or red pines, in the northern section of Heirinji. These trees used to make up most of the woods of the western Tokyo area.
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| The lantern path. |
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| Area where the gardening equipment is stored. |
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| Sculpted pines. The large pine tree in the background, on the right hand-side, is supposedly 500 years old. |
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| Golden carps, or koi, coming for a feed. |
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