Sunday, January 30, 2011

Post One Hundred and Fourteen: Mt Koya-San - Be Mine.



I think I might poo my pants.

It's two weeks and two days until I fly to Japan. Only ten more working days! I've been wanting to go to Japan since I was a blastocyst. I'm pretty sure I was meant to be asian, considering my height and my reluctance to swim in the ocean.

For four weeks I'm conscientiously rampaging Tokyo, Nozawa (for some attempts at snowboarding and big-doodled snowman making), Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Hiroshima. Besides these major stops I've planned some little day trips, my most anticipated being the trek to Mt Koya-san for the okunoin cemetery.

Okunoin is the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most revered persons in the religious history of Japan. It's also the largest buddhist cemetery in japan with something close to 200,000 tombstones.

Apparently, Kobo Daishi is believed to rest in eternal meditation at the cemetery and provides relief to those who ask for salvation. This being said, Okunoin is one of the most sacred places in Japan and I'm super keen to check it out. I'm staying in an actual temple with a koi garden. Most importantly I get to eat sumptous vegetarian delights, wear yukata and loudly hum without people assuming I'm nuts.

Peace. For reals.

3 comments:

  1. wait. fish don't grow in the ground stupid. Koi pond IN garden.

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  2. I REALLY wanted to go there but alas, I had like 6 hours in Osaka so spent it on the castle and sky building instead (which are also both recommended). @dain_ger

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