The Temple of Bannaji

A couple of weeks ago I drove over to Ashikaga to document Bannaji Temple.  Bannaji is adjacent to the Ashikaga Gakko, which I visited last spring.  I just recently learned that it's technically considered a Japanese castle (you can find it listed as Ashikagashi Yakata), although I think the term "fortified samurai residence" is more apt.  It is surrounded by a very castle-y moat with some particularly voracious carp.  It dates to the mid-1100's (have I mentioned that stuff here is really old?) and is a national historic site.




the temple main walk and main hall

not sure what this is....maybe the library?

a really old, really big gingko tree



the moat



they follow you, snapping
their jaws ominously
 



and some statuary



the bell tower

 



The area around Bannaji and the Gakko is interesting because it's kind of like an old town square.  The streets are cobblestone (poor Cora nearly got her little brains rattled out in her stroller) and there are lots of interesting (read: international) restaurants and little shops.  There are also one way streets--- I learned this the hard way by going down one the wrong way and having a little old lady on a bicycle waggle her finger at me.  When we were there it was a little hot and buggy but I really enjoy walking around that part of Ashikaga--it's very picturesque.  It's what I wish all of rural Japan looked like.  Maybe one day I'll go back and just take photos of the streets around the area.