Yata-dera is a small temple squeezed between larger buildings in the covered section of the Teramachi street, right before the Sanjo-Teramachi intersection (look for the big crab!) It is surprising that such a small temple survived the pressure of concrete-loving Japanese. Amazingly, the temple even has a small graveyard (visible on Google Maps).
The main icon of this temple is the statue of a jizo (地蔵) called "代受苦地蔵" (I don't know how to pronounce this ;) The character depicted by the statue is said to have placed himself into the flames of hell. The statue was enshrined to save the sinners who dwell in hell. This little story explain the very fiery designs of ema tablets and other votive offerings found in this temple. Access: Nearby: Honnō-ji 本能寺 (170m), the Tawaraya Ryokan 俵屋旅館 (190m), Nishiki Tenman-gū 錦天満宮 (430m), the Nishiki market 錦市場 (440m), Pontochō 先斗町 (590m), Rokkaku-dō 頂法寺・六角堂 (640m), Shirakawa 白川町 (750m), Humorous shrine 壹錢大明神 (750m), Hana-Kitchō 花吉兆 (790m), Gyōgan-ji 行願寺 (810m),... External links: Kyoto Navi, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Marutake, そうだ京都, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, 下京, 中京, 上京, Yata-dera, 矢田寺, temple, 寺院, 仏閣 Statistics: visited on 2 occasions, id 378, 6 photos (3 extra photos can be found in the archive). |
