Murouji Temple

Name : MurouJi Temple

Location :

It is a temple in the mountains of Muro-yama, close to the Nara's border with Mie Prefecture, Japan.
It can be reached in 15 minutes by bus from Muro-guchi Ono Station on the Kintetsu Line.

Legend :

There are a few theories as to how Muro-ji was founded. The mountain Muro-yama itself, where the temple stands, has been the object of worship since ancient times. It is also said that the temple was built on this land in the 8th century at the end of Nara era, after five monks offered a prayer on the mountain for the Emperor Kanmu's illness to be cured, and this had proved to be very successful.

The five-storied pagoda of Murō-ji

Description :

While the Kongo Temple in Koyasan (Wakayama Prefecture) is male-only, this is a Shingon temple that allows women to also worship there. For this reason, it is also called "Nyonin Koya (Koya for women)."

In its premise are Kondo (golden hall), Mirokudo (hall), Gojunoto (five-story pagoda), Kanjodo (hall), and Okunoin (temple deep in the mountains). The Kondo with Kokera roof tiles built in the Heian era and the Kanjodo and Gojunoto built in the Kamakura era are designated as national treasures while the other buildings are designated as important cultural assets.

The Gojunoto has a height of 16 meters and is the smallest five-story pagoda constructed outdoors in Japan.
Because the Garan are all located on the mountainside, you have to walk up the stone steps to get to any one of them.

In addition to the Garan, there are many other national treasures and important cultural assets among the Buddhist images such as the standing statues of wooden Chuson Shaka Nyorai and eleven-faced Kannon. About a kilometer east of the temple is located Ryuketsu Shrine, enshrining the ryujin.

Websites :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murō-ji
http://www.murouji.or.jp/