Torii gates, Koyasan
This series of torii gates designate the path up to peak of Bentendake in Koyasan.
Koyasan (Mt. Koya) is an amazing place, a place where I wish I'd spent a little more time. Koyasan was founded in 819 and is the centre of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It is home to 120 temples and numerous holy sites. You are able to stay in some of the temples, which is what I did. It was an amazing experience which included morning prayers at 6:30am and breakfasts and dinners of vegetarian monk's food (shōjin ryōri). It was a world away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo - but just as Japanese.
The path to Bentendake is on the Women's Pilgrimage Route around Mt. Koya, as for many centuries, women were forbidden to enter Koyasan.
Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
If you'd like see more images from my trip to Japan, take a look at my Japan album.
Torii gates, Koyasan
This series of torii gates designate the path up to peak of Bentendake in Koyasan.
Koyasan (Mt. Koya) is an amazing place, a place where I wish I'd spent a little more time. Koyasan was founded in 819 and is the centre of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It is home to 120 temples and numerous holy sites. You are able to stay in some of the temples, which is what I did. It was an amazing experience which included morning prayers at 6:30am and breakfasts and dinners of vegetarian monk's food (shōjin ryōri). It was a world away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo - but just as Japanese.
The path to Bentendake is on the Women's Pilgrimage Route around Mt. Koya, as for many centuries, women were forbidden to enter Koyasan.
Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
If you'd like see more images from my trip to Japan, take a look at my Japan album.