Jisso-ji Temple
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseSpring Awakens with Cherry Blossoms and Daffodils in Yamanashi Highlands
水仙と神代桜に見守られる實相寺
Otsuyama Jisso Temple (大津山 實相寺), located in the Hokuto Highlands of Yamanashi Prefecture, is home to around 30 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees and a lovely display of 80,000 trumpet daffodils. These vibrant blooms create a striking contrast with the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kaikoma (甲斐駒ヶ岳), part of the Southern Alps, offering a perfect blend of spring warmth and alpine majesty.
Getting to the temple is relatively easy with only a 2.5-hour drive (156 km/97 mi) from central Tokyo via the Chuo Expressway if you set off before sunrise. The early start is well worth it, as you’ll arrive just in time to witness the morning light illuminating the blossoms and Mt. Kaikoma.
Unfortunately, the temple grounds were closed during my visit, so I wasn’t able to make an offering or pay my respects before exploring the area for some nice compositions. Over the years, I’ve made it a habit to offer my respects whenever visiting a holy site. It’s a personal ritual that helps me set my mindset, reminding me that I am stepping into a place that holds deep significance for the locals—even if, for visitors like me, it may feel more like an adventure.
Though the morning air was still crisp with winter’s lingering chill, the vibrant spring blossoms filled me with hope for warmer days ahead. After what has felt like an unusually harsh winter back home in Yokohama, this glimpse of spring was a much-needed reminder that brighter days were just around the corner, encouraging me to shake off the winter blues.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・06:11
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
45 mm ISO 100 for 1/40 sec. at ƒ/9
References:
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseSnow-Capped Mountains Beyond Temple Gardens with Spring Blossoms and Manicured Matsu Pines
実相寺の桜を見守る甲斐駒ヶ岳
At Otsuyama Jisso-ji Temple in rural Japan, cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom gracefully behind a weathered stone wall, accompanied by the delicate elegance of a manicured matsu pine. In the distance, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kaikoma towers above the landscape, adding a touch of grandeur to the serene temple grounds.
Although Otsuyama's highlands rest at just 643 m (2,110 ft), the early morning air was frigid when I arrived just before sunrise. By 7:00 a.m., sunlight began to spill over the horizon behind me, warming the gardens in a gentle glow. The contrast was striking with the warmth of spring blossoms against the backdrop of Mt. Kaikoma's snow-dusted peak, which rises to 2,300 m (7,545 ft).
Standing here, I couldn’t help but feel the sense of tranquility that Jisso-ji Temple emanates where nature and history exist in perfect harmony.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:09
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
95 mm ISO 100 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/9
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseLocation: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:10
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/8
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseLocation: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:16
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/8
Symbols of Devotion: Exploring the Gate and Stone Monument at Jissō-ji Temple
実相寺の山門と法界塔：春の朝に見る仏教建築と信仰の象徴
The impressive temple gate in this photo is called a Sanmon (山門), the traditional main gate of many Japanese Buddhist temples. Standing just beyond the gate is a tall stone monument known as a Hōkaitō (法界塔), inscribed with sacred calligraphy.
The engravings on the monument read:
南無妙法蓮華経 (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) – This central phrase is a core mantra of Nichiren Buddhism. Often translated as “I devote myself to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra” or “Homage to the Sublime Dharma of the Lotus Sutra,” it is chanted as a spiritual practice to eradicate negative karma, reduce suffering, and guide the practitioner toward enlightenment.
法界塔 (Hōkaitō) – This refers to the stone tower itself. It serves both as a symbolic marker and a spiritual vessel, bearing the temple’s name and the powerful chant inscribed above.
大津山 (Otsuyama) – Located on the lower right of the stone, this part of the inscription refers to the mountain name traditionally associated with the temple.
實相寺 (Jissō-ji) – Found on the lower left, this is the formal name of the temple. Together with 大津山 (Otsuyama), it forms the full name: Otsuyama Jissō-ji (大津山實相寺), which is read right to left in the traditional Japanese writing style.
Captured on a peaceful spring morning in Yamanashi Prefecture, with cherry blossoms in bloom and the distant mountains dusted with snow, this scene embodies the tranquil beauty and spiritual depth of traditional Japanese Buddhist architecture.
Sources:
Join me on a short photowalk in the rural town of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県北杜市), Japan. We explore the numerous cherry blossoms and daffodil fields, the ancient Yamataka Jindai Zakura Cherry Tree (山高神代桜), and some of the beautiful grounds of the Otsuyama Jisso-ji Temple (大津山實相寺).
