Rainy, rainy Koyasan

It was pouring rain when we woke up in Koyasan. We attended the morning service and afterwards were invited to walk behind the altar to look around. It was a special honor. Breakfast was delicious, as was all our meals at thr temple. After an hour the rain did not subside, so we ventured out.

I rigged up a raincoat for camera.

Our first stop was Manito which is a Burmese temple.

Pull the cord three times; where your hand lies on the third pull is your fortune. I got "great blessing" 

A sign on a set of stairs down said they were a test of faith. I grabbed the railing and headed down, to find a small shrine and a rather psychedelic Buddha.

Back upstairs there was another psychedelic Buddha, with flashing lights all around.

I guess thats how the Burmese worship?

We got out of the rain for a while into the Koyasan Reihokan Museum, exhibiting 1200 years of the treasures of Koyasan. The museum  holds over 28,000 items designated as either National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.

Kongouji is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism. The temple, originally buit in 1593, had many rooms with scenes painted on sliding doors, a rock garden, and so many other things.

Getting shrine books stamped

Koyasan's mascot

Rock garden

Garden built during the Edo period

Mausoleum of Shinzen, manager of Koyasan for 56 years

Closeup of mausoleum 

We also made a quick stop to see the red Jizo.