坂東巡礼 第１８番 中禅寺 立木観音
Chuzen-ji Temple is located near Chuzenji-ko (Chuzenji Lake), about 3000 feet above sea level. Chuzenji Lake is about an hour bus ride up the mountain from Nikko bus stop.
Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains many great sites in one single area. Foreign visitors usually only see these temples and neglect to go to Chuzenji Lake. Chuzenji Lake and the water falls there are one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Specifically the fact that the lake is formed between mountains at 3000 feet above sea level. If you go to Nikko, you can cover both the Nikko temples and Chuzenji Lake. See the Nikko temples during the morning and go to Chuzenji Lake in the evening.
Many foreign embassies that are in Tokyo have guest houses for their Ambassadors near Chuzenji Lake.
Chuzen-ji Temple’s main deity is “Tachiki Kannon”. You can see this beautiful Kannon statue in the Hondo (no photos allowed). Story has it that it was carved using a single Katsura tree hundreds of years ago.
First floor of the temple, provides great views of the mountains and the Chuzenji Lake.