Motsu-ji is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi whose principal attraction is not a building but a garden. The temple buildings burned long ago, but the Jodo (Pure Land) garden they surrounded survives in near-original condition, making it one of the best-preserved examples of Heian-period landscape design in Japan.
The garden is composed around a large, irregular pond, with islands, stone arrangements, and carefully shaped banks that create a series of carefully framed views. It was designed to evoke the paradise of Amida Buddha — the Pure Land — as described in Buddhist scripture. Walking the path around the pond takes about 45 minutes and rewards slow attention; the garden is most beautiful in early summer when the irises flower. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Hiraizumi and sits at the base of the same hill as Chuson-ji, making the two easy to combine.