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NARITA |
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The rambling temple complex of Naritasan Shinsho-ji is the main
attraction at the pilgrim town of NARITA , some 60km northeast of Tokyo,
and a fine place to stop off on your way to or from Narita Airport.
Every year, millions of people visit this thousand-year-old temple,
which is an important landmark in the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but it's
such a vast place that, as long as you're not here on one of the main
festival days (New Year and Setsubun on February 3 or 4), you won't
notice the crowds.
To find Naritasan Shinsho-ji , follow the central shopping street,
Omotesando, which is to the left from the plaza in front of the station.
Head north for ten minutes, turning downhill when it forks beside a
small triangular paved island and you'll reach the souvenir stalls
lining the approach to the temple's ornate Nio-mon gate. Many of the
buildings inside the complex are modern reproductions, but in front of
the Great Main Hall is a colourful, three-storey pagoda, dating from the
eighteenth century and decorated with fiersome gilded dragon heads
snarling from under brightly painted rafters. Behind the main hall, the
temple's gardens include small forests and ornamental ponds and rivers.
While you're in this area, it's worth checking out the National Museum
of Japanese History (Tues-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm; ¥400), in Sakura , a town
four stops before Narita on the Keisei line. Set in wooded grounds a
ten-minute walk east from Keisei Sakura Station, this huge museum houses
a great collection of Japanese arts and crafts, including 10,000 BC
Jomon pottery figurines (which look as though they could be sculptures
by Picasso), detailed models of temples, towns and settlements through
the ages, and an extensive range of colourful cultural artefacts. An
English pamphlet and taped commentary will help guide you around.
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