Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, attracting people's strong faith for a long time The temple has been close to people, for more than a thousand years since its foundation by Priest Kanjo in 940, as the head temple of the Chizan Branch of Shingon Sect and also as 'Fudo of Narita.' The principle image of the temple is the statue of Fudo Myoo, which was carved by Kukai (founder of the Shingon sect). Being famous for having a large number of visitors on New Year's day, the temple is visited by many people throughout the year. There are important cultural assets, museums and a library scattered around in the spacious precincts and the Naritasan Park located next to it, and they are all worth seeing. / 0476-22-2111 20 min. walk from JR or Keisei Narita Station

Sanju-no-to (the three storied pagoda) Going through the main gate of the temple and up to the top of the steep steps, you first catch sight of the gorgeous three-storied pagoda standing to the right of the main building. There are cloud and water patterned engravings at the back of the eaves of each story, which were restored in 1977 by precisely following the colors and the method of lacquering shown in the color use manual of 1803, which was kept in the Naritasan Buddhist Library. The restored engravings are precious as they retain the visage of how it used to look in the mid Yedo Period (1603-1867), and they are designated as national important cultural assets.

Shaka-do Hall It was built in 1858 and used to be the main hall of the temple before the present one was built. The principle image here is Shaka Nyorai (the historical Buddha). The wooden walls of the hall have marvelous engravings of five hundred rakan (Buddhists who attained the highest rank of religious wisdom equal to the Buddha's). It is a designated national important cultural asset.

Komyo-do Hall It was built in 1701 and was a main hall of the temple before Shaka-do Hall was. Its principle image is Dainichi Nyorai (the great sun Buddha), who expounded the teachings of Shingon Mikkyo (esoteric Buddhism). The building has a thatched roof of the Irimoya-style and vivid vermilion walls. It is a designated national important cultural asset.

Gaku-do Hall The hall is for displaying votive tablets and pictures. The present building is the second one which was built in 1861. The first building was dedicated by Ichikawa Danjuro VII with a tablet of his figure on the stage, but it was burned down in 1965. The present hall is an Irimoya-style, tile-roofed building and is designated as a national important cultural asset.

Naritasan Shotoku Taishi-do Hall

Dai-to Pagoda The awe-inspiring pagoda, standing at the back of Komyo-do Hall, was built in 1984. It expresses the world of mandara, a symbolic diagram used in esoteric Buddhism, which represents the fundamental doctrines of Shingon Mikkyo, mutual respect and dedication.

Issai-kyo-do Sutra Hall

Sogo Reido Sanctuary (Meishozan Tosho-ji Temple), the family temple of Sakura Sogo Tosho-ji Temple, now famous as the Sogo Reido Sanctuary, was originally an old temple of the Buzan Branch of Shingon Sect, which was built for the repose of fallen soldiers' souls when Sakanoue-no Tamuramaro, the Barbarian-subduing Great General, conquered Boso (the present Chiba Prefecture). In 1652, Kiuchi Sogoro, the headman of Kozu Village (the present Narita City) made a direct appeal to the shogun, which was prohibited by law, in order to save peasants who had been groaning under a bad crop, heavy taxes, and oppression by the domain governor. He had no other choice. As a result, he and his four children were executed. This was the so called, 'Sakura Riot.' Since then, he has been called 'Sogo-sama,' and the incident has been dramatized under the name 'a righteous man, Sakura Sogo,' which moved many people to tears. In Tosho-ji Temple, the family temple of Sakura Sogo or Kiuchi Sogoro, there are not only the graves of him and his sons but also the memorial hall of Sogo (Sogo Goichidaiki-kan), where articles left by him and materials are displayed. The temple is also famous for its cherry-blossoms and it is thronged with people in cherry-blossom season. / 0476-22-2111 15 min. walk from Keisei Sogo Sando Station

New Tokyo International Airport (Narita Airport), used by more than 300 million travelers in total since its opening in 1977 As the access from central Tokyo is becoming more and more convenient, the airport is being improved year after year as a gateway to Japan. More than 330 planes and 600 thousand travelers come in and out every day. The amount of international cargo handled here is No. 1 in the world and the number of travelers No. 6. The airport certainly plays an important role as an international airport while creating various scenes of people's meeting and parting every day. From the observation deck, you can see, close at hand, the take off and landing of planes of fifty airline companies from thirty-eight countries. (Free of charge for observation. An ID such as driver's license or passport is necessary.) /0476-32-2802 Homepage: http://www.narita-airport.or.jp/airport_e/index_e.html Get off at JR or Keisei Narita Airport Station or Airport Terminal 2 Station