The trip to Japan was organized by Samurai Tours

Travel to Koya, Japan, 2006

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Buddhist Temple Cemetery 1 Cemetery 2 Cemetery 3 Cemetery 4 Cemetery, children statues Cemetery Food for Kukai Koya Buddhist temple 2 Koya-san 1 Monastery guest quarters Monastery kaiseki dinner

Mount Koya is one of Japan's holiest mountains located in Wakayama Prefecture. In the early 9th century, the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi founded the first temple and it has grown to more than 100 monasteries surrounding the head temple of Kongobuji.

Sacred Mountain for Shingon Sect of Esoteric Buddhism. A mountain monastery called Kongobuji was established here in 816 AD by Kukai (aka Kobo Daishi, 774 - 835 AD, founder of Japan's Shingon Sect). Kukai is also intimately associated with the Pilgrimage to the 88 Holy Sites of Shikoku. Since its founding until today, Kongobuji has served as the center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan, and Mt. Koya remains one of modern Japan's most popular pilgrimage sites.

The monastery is a vast repository of Buddhist art, especially mandalas, and home to a large number of graves. Dainichi Nyorai and Fudo Myo-o are two of the sect's most revered deities. Kobo Daishi's name literally means "great teacher of Buddhism." He is also credited with creating Japan's hiragana syllabary.

USEFUL LINKS:
Night at a Temple
Shingon Buddhism

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