Garyūzan Gyōki-ji

photo by User:Monami · CC BY-SA 3.0

photo by User:Monami · CC BY-SA 3.0

Rebuilt in 1705–09: the walls use Kawado-ishi, the stone of Nagoya Castle.

The temple stands on Mount Garyū, overlooking the Nōbi Plain, and was rebuilt between 1705 and 1709 as the funerary temple of the Takasu branch of the Matsudaira clan of Owari. The enclosure walls, which give it an almost castle-like profile, are built with Kawado-ishi (河戸石): the same local stone used in the walls of Nagoya Castle. From the ‘moon-viewing room’ of the corridor garden, which dates from the same period, the view takes in the plain below.

Buddhist temple of ancient foundation (Nara period, according to tradition), in the municipality of Kaizu: historic seat of the Takasu branch of the Matsudaira clan, a cadet branch of the house of Owari. The present complex (walls, buildings and garden) dates from the rebuilding of the early eighteenth century.

ℹ️ Open 9:00–16:00; closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except public holidays) and from 20 to 31 December. Ticket 400 yen.

Sources: gyokiji.org · city.kaizu.lg.jp · ja.wikipedia.org

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