Yamadera and the Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum
Yamadera is properly known as Hoju-san Risshaku-ji Temple, a Tendai sect mountain temple founded in the 2nd year of Jōgan (860) by imperial decree of Emperor Seiwa.
Kaisan-do Hall (right) and Nokyo-do Hall (left)
In Genroku 2 (1689), Matsuo Basho visited Yamadera during his 'Oku no Hosomichi' journey and
left behind the famous haiku: 'Silence—/sinking into the rocks/cicada’s cry.'
At this time, Basho and Sora stayed overnight at Yamadera.
Semizuka (Cicada Mound) (right photo. Left photo is the 'Semizuka' signpost)
The Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum opened in Heisei 1 (1989) to commemorate Basho's visit to Yamadera.
The "View of Hoju-san Risshaku-ji Temple from the Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum" has been selected as one of the "Recommended Viewpoints 33" in Yamagata Prefecture's 'Yamagata Landscape Story,' which features beautiful natural landscapes and townscapes within Yamagata Prefecture that move people.
