Dairinin temple heard the prayers of generations of Iiyama feudal lords. Once home to the "Atago Bell,"which kept time for the city, it also served an important function in the lives of local people.Named for a deity, Iiyama's Atago area developed largely thanks to the influence of the shrine. It may be difficult to imagine now, but the area used to be covered in abundant thickets, which threatened to overtake the shrine.