Bananji temple😃 And former Ashikaga residence. It seem history from Kamakura period. I often see koi. Elegant and tasteful ! 😉

A most pleasant surprise...not well publicized for the English speaking tourist, and delightful. The traditional village area of Ashikaga is a high light of our visits to Japan.

The hotel where my family of five stayed for the night from December 23-24, 2019 was just next to it. When I opened the curtains in the morning, I got mesmerised by the temple and then I went inside to have a look. It was a very beautiful and peaceful place and I thought deeply about life there!

A very huge temple with an old history about 800 years. Before the temple was built, it was used as the houses of Ashikaga, very powerful samurai.

Good! I got the stamp of 100　Japan castles. Many person got them.

Bannaji Temple is a 4 hectare (10 acre) site that began life as the home of Yoshiyasu Ashikaga (1127-1157 A.D.), the founder of the Ashikaga clan, in the mid-12th century, the Muromachi era of Japanese history. These warrior roots are still evident today in its walled, moated, four-gated layout--a rarity for temples in Japan. A few decades later, in 1196, his son, Yoshikane (posthumous Buddhist name, Banna) seeking divine protection built a temple here dedicated to the Vairocana Buddha, which in 1234 became full-fledged temple housing priests, and the official temple of the Ashikagas. It has a huge six-century old gingko tree.

A very beautiful, serene 12th century buddhist temple. This, along with Ashikaga gakko, believed to be the first school in Japan, which is a 2 minutes walk from here, makes an interesting half day trip

This is definitely the place for you if you want to enjoy a piece of quiet. The place itself is really inspiring. With the ancient decoration and architectural style, you will feel like you just walk into another world. You entered exhausted and troubled, and you come out refreshed and spirit-lifted. The only thing is the location is totally 'out-of-reach' for normal travelers. Otherwise: totally recommended!!

Lovely quiet temple (on weekdays) with a small moat. There is a Japanese garden, playground, outside stage, small kiosks for grabbing some bites too. You have to see the 550 years old ginko tree which is especially amazing in fall season. My kids LOVE feeding the birds and koi fish there. They sell rice puffs for koi and birds at the kiosks.