Myotsu-ji Temple

Myotsu-ji is a Shingon temple of the Omuro school in Monzen, Obama City, Fukui Prefecture. Its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, and a Kamakura-period main hall and three-story pagoda stand quietly among cedars in the hills. Even among the old temples of Obama, it preserves especially old architecture.

Tradition says the general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro founded it in 806, though much of its early history is unclear. The present main hall and pagoda are 13th-century reconstructions; the main hall (Yakushi-do) was raised in 1258 and completed in 1265. Both are National Treasures and are the only National Treasure buildings in Fukui Prefecture.

The main hall, with its deeply projecting eaves, shows the features of Kamakura-period esoteric Buddhist architecture. The pagoda beside it is about 22 m tall and rises among the cedars; it is noted as the oldest pagoda to use kobushi-bana (fist-shaped carved ends), an element of the Daibutsu style.

The statues are also a highlight. Four statues, the seated Yakushi Nyorai (principal image), Gozanze Myoo, Jinja Taisho and Fudo Myoo, are national Important Cultural Properties and convey the character of an esoteric temple that drew the devotion of nobles in the medieval period. In 2015 it was certified as a component of the Japan Heritage story on Wakasa's cultural heritage along the routes linking the sea and the capital.

Morning is a good time to enjoy the quiet. Allow 30 to 60 minutes to see the hall and pagoda. It is about 9 minutes by Aiai bus from Higashi-Obama Station on the JR Obama Line, or about 10 minutes by car from Obama IC on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway via Route 27.

Nearby spots include Kumagawa-juku (about 8.9 km), the Sotomo coast (about 15 km) and the Five Lakes of Mikata (about 16.6 km).