The First Train Home

A log of my adventures as I travel via bullet train in Japan!

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Adorable Japanese Sweets Too Cute To Eat

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People always seem to underestimate my willingness to eat the yummy thing when the yummy thing is pretty.  Pretty is a BONUS on yummy, not a deterrent.

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Totoro Cakes That Are Too Cute To Eat

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Simple and beautiful soup - made by monks! Shōjin Ryōri cuisine at Eko-in Temple, Mt Koya, Japan [OC] [6000x4000]

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Staying at a Buddhist temple overnight is common for both tourists and Buddhist pilgrims.  That means vegertarian food.  Usually, various vegetables either deep fried, boiled or raw and Koya Tofu (a type of freeze dried tofu).  

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Most Japanese cities have cute little characters as mascots.  When I went to Mt. Koya, the most holy of Shingon Buddhist sites in Japan, I saw Koya-kun everywhere.  I had been two Mt. Koya twice before, but not since 2008, so this was new I think.  

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Of the many places I visited during my sister’s week-long stay, Koyasan (Mount Koya in English) was undoubtedly the highlight. A world heritage site. located in Wakayama prefecture, Koyasan is primarily known as the world headquarters of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. 

Koya was founded in 819 by the monk Kukai (one of Japan’s most important religious figures). After traveling the country for years looking for a suitable area to base his sect, Kukai finally chose Koya as an elderly man. Eventually over 120 temples were established and Koya became the start and end point of the famous Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

The pictures above come from the grounds surrounding “Okunoin” (the mausoleum of Kukai), which is surrounded by the largest, spookiest graveyard in Japan. Although every bit of the 3 km walk through temple was visually amazing, it was the incredible variety of faces carved into the stone tombstones that really got me.

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This was amazing to see in person!

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Koyasan Buddha.

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Cats In Kimonos Are A Thing In Japan

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fancy kitties 4 uuuuuu

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Reverse culture shock O.o

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The 7 Weirdos You'll See on Public Transportation

Beware of seat hoggers.