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Autumn Illumination of national treasure temple Shiramizu Amidado

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Autumn Illumination of national treasure temple Shiramizu Amidado

Enjoy the nighttime view of a beautiful Buddhist paradise garden and a National Treasure prayer hall

IWAKI TOURISM AND CITY PLANNING BUREAU

The prayer hall Shiramizu Amidadō, built in the 12th century, is one of the oldest buildings in Iwaki and the only piece of architecture designated as a national treasure in Fukushima Prefecture. Tokuhime, a daughter of the powerful grand lord Fujiwara no Kiyohira, built the temple to hold a memorial service for her late husband, the lord Iwaki Norimichi in 1160. Inside the prayer hall are five Buddhist statues which are designated as Important Cultural Properties.

The beautiful ponds and garden, which were restored from the remains, are representing the Buddhist ideal of the Jodo or ‘Pure Land’ paradise garden. Every autumn the garden's maple and 600-year-old gingko trees put on a glorious display of colours, made even more impressive by night-time illumination. This illumination event, which takes place in November, is entitled Amida Night after the prayer hall, Shiramizu Amidadō. As part of the event, projection mapping is used to revive the faded, almost invisible ceiling pictures in Shiramizu Amidadō.