Kanazawa

Nata-dera

Nata-dera is a magical place. It is a combination of a Buddhist temple complex, Shinto shrine, and niwa, or wild garden. The main hall (hondou or kondou), Keou-den, houses a thousand-armed Kannon and has an electronic display on the ceiling. We were not allowed to photograph in this room so you will have to visit to see how impressive it was. In the midst of the grounds is Iwa-yama (Rock Hill). Steep steps are carved into the sides of the hill, leading to Shinto shrines. Buddhist shrines fill the iwaya, or caves. A moss garden is located near the entrance, several ponds dot the grounds, and wildness pervades the rest of the grounds.

Entrance gate to Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Map of Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Shinto shrine in Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Shinto shrine in Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Tsukubai in Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Tourou in Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Cliff and pond in Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Bob on bridge in Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Jennifer in tunnel at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Room in tunnel at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Peering through the door in tunnel at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Moss Garden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Betty Swartz)
Keou-den at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Keou-den at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
NCTA group in front of Keou-den, Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Jennifer Cowan)	Tourou beside stream, Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Travis Heggem)
Pond and cliffs with caves at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Swan in pond at Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Jennifer Cowan)
Tourou and cliffs at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Caves in cliff at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Torii entrance to Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Shinto Shrine on Iwa-yama at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Climb up stairs to Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Cave near Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Travis and Vicky on path to Shinto Shrine July 17, 2003	Shinto Shrine on Iwa-yama at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Iwa-yama, Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Travis Heggem)	Linda in front of Shinto Shrine, Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Vicky Mann)
Entrance to Honden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Steps lined with tourou leading to the Honden July 17, 2003 (Photo by Betty Swartz)
Tourou in front of Honden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Honden shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Candles in Honden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Exit from Honden at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Betty at Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo courtesy of Betty Swartz)
Incantation Chamber housing the God of Fire July 17, 2003 (Photo by Betty Swartz)	Statue at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Bishamonten, Guardian of the North July 17, 2003 (Photo by Jennifer Cowan)	Three-storied Pagoda, Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Jennifer Cowan)
Three-storied Pagoda at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Paula in front of Three-storied Pagoda July 17, 2003 (Photo by Betty Swartz)
Chinjudo Observation Platform at Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Dainichi Nyorai inside Three-storied Pagoda July 17, 2003
Nathan on the cliffs of Iwa-yama at Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photos by Betty Swartz)	David at the Chinjudo Observation Platform July 17, 2003 (Photo by Betty Swartz)
Jizo in shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Jennifer Cowan)	Shrine entrance, Nata-dera July 17, 2003 (Photo by Vicky Mann)
Torii entrance to Shinto Shrine, Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Tourou at Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Ema boards and o-mikuji at Shinto Shrine July 17, 2003	Tsukubai at Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Koma-inu at Shinto Shrine, Nata-dera July 17, 2003	Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera July 17, 2003
Partial Panorama of Shinto Shrine at Nata-dera ~ July 17, 2003 ~ QuickTime Movie

Kanazawa ~ Image Gallery ~ NCTA Japan 2003