The Spot
Founded in 1681, Gokoku-ji is the Buddhist temple headquarters of the Buzan school of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. Gokoku-ji is also one of the few temples in Tokyo that survived unscathed from the wrath of mother nature and wars over three centuries. It was only a decade ago, that the temple was rebuilt from the ground up. Like most temples, Gokoku-ji features a few beautiful sakura trees that are mainly located around the temple and at the bottom of the stairs leading to the main yard.
Pro Photo Tip
There, using a semi-long telephoto lens (85mm / 135mm), beautiful shots can be made by framing the roofs and the cherry blossoms. In the main yard, a weeping sakura tree can be snapped, using a good 50mm, with nice Japanese traditional architectural elements in the background. Another sakura tree near the main building will require a wide-angle lens (16~24mm) to frame both the sakura tree and the shrine correctly.
Access Info
Station : Gokoku-ji (Yurakucho Line)
Entrance Fees : Free
Opening hours : 05:00 to 16:30
Download your FREE copy via one of the following links :Tokyo No Sakura eBook
