Rakan Butsuzo

During Golden Week this year, I went back to what I consider to be the best temple in all of Japan. It’s called Otagi-Nenbutsu-ji, and it’s located in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. The temple is filled with over a thousand bizarre Buddha statues called Rakkan (disciples of Buddha). For more information about the temple, click here.

Cute Buddhas

During Golden Week this year, I went back to what I consider to be the best temple in all of Japan. It’s called Otagi-Nenbutsu-ji, and it’s located in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. The temple is filled with over a thousand bizarre Buddha statues called Rakkan (disciples of Buddha). The temple grounds were full of flowers, making it even more magical than usual. For more information about the temple, click here.

Japanese Inn

Old Japanese inn in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. The stickers are called Senja fuda, which means “one thousand shrine card” and they are often put on the gates of both temples and shrines by visitors to leave a record of their visit.

Rakan Butsuzo

Some Buddhist statues are serenely beautiful. Others are terrifyingly ferocious. But every once in a while, you’ll come across a cute or funny one. Rakan Butsuzo, images of the disciples of Buddha, are often depicted pulling funny faces, with humorous features, or in bizarre poses. For more information about the bizarre statues at Otagi Nenbutsu Temple, click here.

Evil fisherman

Evil fisherman in Arashiyama on the outskirts of Kyoto. He was equipped with binoculars and fish-detecting sonar.