Gesshō-ji

The vast temple, designated a National Historic Site, is particularly renowned for its solemn entrance doors leading to the tombs, which are particularly well preserved.

Within the temple grounds is a large stone turtle on which a huge pillar is planted.

According to legend, this pillar was planted in the turtle's back to prevent it from wandering at night as it apparently had become accustomed to.

This legend appears in one of the tales of Lafcadio Hearn who worked for more than a year in the city as an English teacher in 1890.

You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.This article about a Japanese religious building or structure is a stub.