ABOUT
About this spot
The Kanjizai-o-in Ruins are the remains of a late Heian-period temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. In the 12th century, the wife of Fujiwara no Motohira, the second lord of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, is said to have ordered its construction. It lies next to Motsu-ji and was inscribed in 2011 as a component of the World Heritage site "Hiraizumi". The temple precinct stretched north to south, with two Amida halls on the north side and a garden pond in the centre. It was abandoned after 1189 and turned into rice fields, but the garden was excavated and restored between 1973 and 1976. Because few Heian-period gardens survive, the site is highly valued. The central pond, called Maizuru-ga-ike (the Dancing Crane Pond), is a Pure Land garden meant to evoke paradise on earth. The site was designated a Special Historic Site in 1952 and a Place of Scenic Beauty in 2005. It is maintained as a historical park and is described as free to visit. No halls remain, so it is a place for imagining the past from the foundation stones and the pond. A walk around the pond takes about 20 to 30 minutes. It is about a 7 to 8 minute walk from Hiraizumi Station. Motsu-ji is next door, and Chuson-ji is about 1.6 km away.
Last updated October 25, 2026