Temple 17, Idoji, was founded under orders of Emperor Temmu in the 7th Century.
The main deity is Yakushi, the healing Buddha, and there are 7 statues of Yakushi Nyori supposedly carved by Shotoku Taishi.
Idoji means "Well Temple" and refers to the legend that when Kukai visited here he dug a well with his staff and renamed the temple.
The temple was burned down several times and rebuilt in the 17th Century, but the present concrete structures only date from the 1970's.
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Great photos. The first one is especially striking!
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