Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple commemorates the 1,080th anniversary of the foundation in 2018. The origin of the temple goes back to the settling of the revolt by Masakado Taira through the goma ritual prayer, which continues to this day. The scene of special firewood, known as gomagi prayer sticks, being thrown into the flickering flame of goma ritual fire is quite famous in Japan. There are nationally designated important cultural properties such as the Niomon Gate, Komyodo Hall and Shakado Hall, as well as numerous dotogaran (temple halls and pagodas) with each hall considered to provide such blessings as good luck, protection from evil, success in life, prosperous business, love, employment and the like.
　The precinct contains a spacious park that spreads over an area equivalent to about 3.5 times the Tokyo Dome (165,000 m2), as well as a western garden, three ponds, Yuhinotaki Falls and other beautiful scenes where visitors can recuperate and spend relaxing time. Furthermore, sutra copying can be experienced at the sutra copying dojo (in the Great Peace Pagoda), with all tools such as brush and paper for sutra copying all available at the site. Once the copying is finished, participants may bring home the brush used as a souvenir.
　After spending some relaxing time at the temple, visitors are invited to walk through the omotesando approach to the temple that extends about 800 meters, stopping by to enjoy renowned eel dishes or picking souvenirs to take home. The diverse range of things that can be experienced and not just the worship, is an attraction of Naritasan.