Hodaiji Temple in Shizuoka

An oasis of serenity in the middle of the city

Peter Sidell Dec 09, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>That little guy has a great vantage point on his arch over the pond</p>

<p>One of the big lanterns in the grounds</p>

<p>There are plenty of these little chaps around</p>

<p>It's relaxing to watch the fish glide around the pond</p>

<p>Lots of little statues taking it easy on the lawn</p>

<p>The lantern in front of the main hall</p>

<p>There's this impressive pagoda standing in the corner...</p>

<p>...close to this peaceful statue of the Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy</p>

<p>Another lantern round the back of the main hall</p>

<p>There are these unusual elephants under the eaves of the main hall</p>

<p>This fellow seems not to be as happy as the rest</p>

Close to the 109 Building near Shizuoka station, Hodaiji is an utterly charming temple, with a peaceful atmosphere and lots of interesting features for both casual visitors and temple-spotters like me. There are some unusual flying elephants under the eaves of the main hall, a lawn dotted with lots of little statues, a raked gravel zen garden, a carp pond where you can watch the fish swimming slowly around, and plenty more. It's a great place to take a break from the bustle of this lively city and relax your heart and mind.

Peter Sidell @peter.sidell

I came to Japan from Manchester, England in 2003, and have travelled a lot since then, around Japan and in Asia. When I'm not working, I write satire and perform stand-up comedy in and around Tokyo. Check YouTube for a taste.