Kita-in Temple
Kita-in, familiar to locals by the alternate name “Kawagoe Daishi,” is a temple of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism with a history of about 1200 years.
Many of its buildings have been nationally designated as important cultural properties, and its vast precincts is a scenic place with ponds and moats.
The Gohyaku Rakan, known as one of “Japan’s top three rakan,” is a group of 540 stone statues of the disciples of Buddha, each with its own posture and facial expression. According to old, popular belief, if one rubs the heads of the statues at midnight, there is always one that is warm, and its face resembles the person’s parent who passed away.
The temple hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Especially the Dharma market at New Year, the Setsubun event in February, the cherry blossom festival in spring, and the autumnal foliage in the end of fall attract many sightseers.
