Chimanji (智満寺) Temple in Shimada city

Brian and I were out of town on business yesterday, and as there was a dinner party involved, we decided to stay at our favorite business hotel in Shimada city. Waking up at about 5 a.m. today, we had time for an onsen at the hotel and a viking breakfast (viking is Japanese English for buffet-style). The all-you-can-drink coffee was especially appreciated.

After breakfast, we drove to a temple that is near one of the most awesome biking trails in Shizuoka prefecture. Though we were wearing business cloths (i.e. high heels!!), and were bike-less, we enjoyed walking around Chimanji (智満寺); the temple is not far from the city, but it is worlds away in other respects - quiet, surrounded by little mountain buddhas (jizo-sama), the temple and surrounding trails are a small slice of old Japan. There is more here.

There are 10 famous cedar trees (800 to 1200 years old!) in the forest here, and a number of temple buildings. Being so close to the trail head made us pine (no pun intended) for our bikes, but it was nice to just walk around the temple grounds, too.


Brian admires Chimanji temple



Forbidding Guard - protecting the temple



Temple from On-High - Brian snapped this photo from a hiking trail we were investigating.