Iwate highlights – World Heritage Cultural Sites in Hiraizumi

Iwate’s most famous tourist sites are located in the town of Hiraizumi, in southern Iwate. Hiraizumi was founded in the 12^th century by the Oshu Fujiwara clan and was designed as a Buddhist ‘Pure Land’ on earth. Located on a rich, fertile plain and with abundant natural resources including gold, Hiraizumi quickly grew into a thriving city, rivalling Kyoto in wealth and influence.

In front of the Konjikido at Chusonji Temple

Hiraizumi flourished for a century, through the reigns of four generations of Fujiwara lords. However, following the death of its fourth and final ruler, Fujiwara no Yasuhira, Hiraizumi was overrun by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate. Over time, many of Hiraizumi’s temples and buildings were destroyed by fire and the city fell into ruin. 

Takkoku Cave temple

However, the local people are intensely proud of their rich cultural heritage and have worked tirelessly over the centuries to preserve the history of old Hiraizumi. Major temples such as Chusonji, with its golden pavilion, the Konjikido, and Motsuji, with its manicured gardens, have been rebuilt and preserved, so even today we can experience the beauty and serenity of ‘Pure Land’ Hiraizumi.

You can also see a special flower, the Chusonji lotus, which only blooms on the temple grounds. A lotus seed was found in the head casket of Fujiwara no Yasuhira, who is buried with his ancestors in the Konjikido. This seed was planted again in 1998 and the Chusonji lotus continues to bloom to this day, 800 years after the seed was first handled.

 

Hiraizumi’s many temples, gardens are archaeological ruins have long been treasured in Japan for their beauty and historical value. This year, they were also recognised internationally, being added to the UNESCO World Heritage list on 29 June 2011.

This was very welcome news for the people of Iwate, who hope the World Heritage recognition attracts extra tourists from within Japan and around the world. Visiting Hiraizumi gives you a glimpse of Japan’s past. By going there now you can also help Iwate’s future, by contributing to the local economy as they recover from the earthquake and tsunami.

The poet, Matsu Basho, visited Hiraizumi on his trip to the 'deep north'