Koyasan Monastery

Koyasan is a Bhuddist monastery complex founded in the 8th century, surrounded by eight mountain peaks which for the Bhuddist resembles the centre of a lotus flower. It is considered one of the most spiritual places in Japan. The Oku-no-in cemetery is the resting place of 200,000 Japanese, followers of the monk Kobo Dashi who established the monastery and whose spirit is thought to live on there. It is a very beautiful and atmospheric place with collapsing moss covered shrines, illuminated at night by stone lanterns. The red hats and bibs on some of the statues are to ask the gods for protection from evil. Originally they were to protect children who had died prematurely. We witnessed the Fire Ceremony, when prayers written on wooden tablets are burnt each morning by the monks to the accompaniment of chanting and drumming.