The temple is known affectionately as Mittera-san by local residents. Its main hall was lifted and moved in one piece to face Midosuji, Osaka’s main street, allowing the tower block to be constructed behind and around it. “Our temple now faces a main thoroughfare and has become friendly and welcoming to general visitors,” said Shunyu Kaga, Mitsutera’s deputy head priest. The complex in Osaka’s Chuo Ward is expected to open to the public Nov. 26. Hotel guests will be invited to take part in the temple’s ceremonies, including morning prayers, “eshakyo” (transcription of sutra and Buddha images) and meditation. The construction project was undertaken jointly by Mitsutera and Tokyo Tatemono Co., a property developer based in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward.
A decline in parishioner numbers and an increasing demand for simplified funerals made it difficult for the temple to survive financially. Mitsutera’s main hall, rebuilt after it burned down in the late Edo Period (1603-1867), was jacked up and moved in one piece to sit alongside Midosuji’s sidewalk. “The aroma of incense floating next to the fragrance of perfume from the boutiques of high fashion brands, which line Midosuji, could make it a pleasant experience to stroll in the area,” Kaga said. The deal comes with a fixed-term land leasehold agreement of 50 years. Mitsutera will tap into the rent to cover expenses, such as repairs to the main hall and altar fittings, officials said.
(This article was compiled from reports by Tatsuo Kanai and Takumi Okada.)
