Ryotanji Temple

This temple has episodes with the historically famous Ii Naotora, a female political leader with a male name. Ryotanji has Ii Family’s graves on the grounds, and Naotora’s confidante, Nankei Zuimon, ran this temple.

The classic temple is beautiful. The hallway is said to be made by Hidari Jingoro, a talented carving craftsman in Edo Period. The hallway is designed to chirp like an Uguisu bird with each step.

Ryotanji’s highlight is the garden, a registered national scenic beauty. On the temple grounds, plum, sasanqua and camellia will turn to azalea, rhododendron in spring and hydrangea in summer, a parade of flowers to enjoy in four seasons. From fall to winter, the autumn foliage is stunning to see.

In the fall special exhibition, a prefecture-designated cultural property, Yuraku-no-Zu folding screen is featured. It is a room divider with a painting that depicts life in early Edo Period - people drinking, playing chess or a card game, and fishing. Sometimes, the warlord Oda Nobunaga’s old encyclopedia, Soban Kinshu Bankakoku (national important cultural property), comes on display. You can think of the weight of the long history here and forget the city hustle and bustle.

There is a souvenir shop on the parking lot with Ii Naotora goods, eel ice cream, travel bags made of local textiles, etc.