Jul 17, 2014 - 1 min read

Asahisan Fudoji Temple, Fukui

A temple in the sun at the foot of Mt. Asuwa

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Trees and the purification font on the grounds of Fudoji Temple

Looking up at Fujoji Temple from the foot of Mt. Asuwa

The statue of the Goddess of Mercy for children standing with bare rocks of Mt. Asuwa in the backdrop

Purple banners line the stone steps to the alter

Small stone shrine in the shadow of the mountain cave

A living cat is guarding the stone lantern

The cat was glaring at me suspiciously...he must take his job seriously!

The sign says a Zizo statue costs more than 15,000 yen to donate!

Dragon at the purification font. He has a dragon ball in his hand

The back of the dragon at the purification font

Red torii gate of a small shrine on the grounds of Fudoji Temple in Fukui

Asahisan Fudoji Temple is located at the foot of the Mt. Asuwa in the center of Fukui city. One of the hiking trails of the mountain starts from here. The first thing you see upon arrival would be the tall statue of the Goddess of Mercy for children standing with the bare rocks of the Mt. Asuwa at her back. These rocks are called 'Shakudani Stone', a unique green-blue stone which can be only mined in Fukui prefecture. The temple's history dates back to 1711, when people were suffering from natural disasters. To prevent disasters they built the temple with Fudomyoo (Acala), since it was believed that placing Fudomyoo in the sun would stop disasters from happening. The temple was deserted and nobody was to be seen. The only living thing I met there was the cat on the stone lantern standing in front of the alter. He glared at me with a serious face...a true guardian of the temple I suppose. More photos of the temple can be seen here.