Just over the Togetsukyo Bridge (follow the road to the left after you cross it) in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto is Horin-ji Temple. I visited in early April, when the cherry blossoms were blooming and the weather was unpredictable. That day, the sky was dark in the morning with some rain, but it cleared up later. Horin-ji is a temple that 13-year olds and their families visit to receive blessings for "coming of age" (March 13 - May 13). Interestingly, there were sheep and cow statues here, something I had never seen before. The temple also has a beautiful large bell, and a pagoda.
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Horin-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto
Coming of age, sakura, and spring
![Larry Knipfing Larry Knipfing](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/24/240x240!/565e87e167ba810c868b6ba0.jpg)
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![Statue of a ram, looking towards the Horin-ji Temple pagoda](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68525/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68525.jpg)
Statue of a ram, looking towards the Horin-ji Temple pagoda
![Kokuzo Bodhisattva greeting visitors to the temple](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68539/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68539.jpg)
Kokuzo Bodhisattva greeting visitors to the temple
![Gate of Horin-ji Temple](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68527/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68527.jpg)
Gate of Horin-ji Temple
![The pagoda during cherry blossom season](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68529/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68529.jpg)
The pagoda during cherry blossom season
![Looking down on Togetsukyo Bridge from the heights of the temple grounds](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68531/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68531.jpg)
Looking down on Togetsukyo Bridge from the heights of the temple grounds
![Statue of a cow at the temple](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68532/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68532.jpg)
Statue of a cow at the temple
![Kokuzo Bodhisattva](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68533/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68533.jpg)
Kokuzo Bodhisattva
![Reflection in a cistern that collects water from the roof of the temple building when it rains](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68536/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68536.jpg)
Reflection in a cistern that collects water from the roof of the temple building when it rains
![A group of family and friends planting incense sticks before praying](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68541/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68541.jpg)
A group of family and friends planting incense sticks before praying
![Cherry blossom and lantern](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68543/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68543.jpg)
Cherry blossom and lantern
![View of the temple just after reaching the top of the stairs from below](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68545/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68545.jpg)
View of the temple just after reaching the top of the stairs from below
![The temple bell](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68547/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68547.jpg)
The temple bell
![Temple crest on the bell](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12115-68548/1000/kyoto-horin-ji-temple-arashiyama-kyoto-68548.jpg)
Temple crest on the bell
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