Mt. Koyasan

Koyasan is the home to Shingon Buddhism. In the 800's Kobo Diasho was a buddhist monk who traveled to China to learn this particular type of Buddhism. Once he became a master, he came back to Japan and the Japanese government gave him the Koyasan area to open a temple and monastary. Don't ask me what Esoteric Buddhism is, but this is how they describe Shingon.

There are over 100 temples, an incredible cemetery with 200,000 graves, and a beautiful mountain setting. We were there to see the memorial week (Obon) lantern festival. Beginning at 7PM on Monday we, along with what seemed like 10,000 other people) hiked up the mountain through the cemetary to one of the temples. People lit thin tapered candles with sticks on the bottom and placed them into long strips of styrofoam covered with tinfoil. There were thousands and thousands of candles going all of the way up the mountain. When we got almost to the temple, the monks had set out beautiful washi paper lanterns to line the path. At the very top sit two temples. When we got up to the one at the very top, we could hear this low, monotonous chanting from a distance. On the inside of the temple, monks in black embroidered robes sat chanting with one elder monk. People threw coins into the temple area where the monks sat (just on the floor not at the monks), lit incense, and prayed.

The whole experience was incredible... though frustrating with a stroller and the most aggressive group of human beings alive... who just push right through.

During the day we saw beautiful temples and gardens. Some photos below.

OK. Going to bed.

Kisses to all