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Narita-san (成田山
lit: Narita mountain) is located in central
Narita city,
Chiba prefecture,
Japan.
This temple is one of the most well known in the
Kanto region of Japan and is only surpassed in visitors during the O-shogatsu
period by the
Meiji Shrine in
Tokyo. The temple grounds are comprised of a main gate, a steep
stairwell and the main buildings (including a couple five-story pagodas),
and a garden area with large pond. A very small zoo is also within the
temple grounds.
The mail hall is a buddhist worship area. The interior is
based on Indian buddhist design but has a distinct Japanese impression.
Throughout the day visitors come to sit and to pray aloud.
Tourism
Travellers leaving Japan via
New Tokyo International Airport (Narita airport) commonly stop by to
visit. The temple is within 10 minutes walking from either the JR Narita
Station or the Keisei Narita Station and both paths offer many small shops
selling Japanese snacks and other foodstuffs and also Japanese good-luck
charms such as
Daruma dolls.
Special Events
At the beginning of the year locals
flock to Narita-san for the O-shogatsu holidays to pray.
In
spring the
Taiko festival occurs at Narita-san. One can observe taiko drum play and
dancing at this time.
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