Osaka & Koya-san

We recently returned from a trip to Osaka and Koya-san, a real study in contrasts.

We first took the shinkansen to Osaka, we we saw the pricey, but excellent, aquarium (Picture 1), as well as Spa World, a gigantic hot springs with themed floors (e.g., a medicinal Chinese bath, a Balinese bath, a Turkish bath). After staying the night, we also had one of our favorite Japanese foods - and an Osaka specialty - okonimiyaki (picture 2).

We headed off to Koya-san (Mt. Koya) on a small train, then a steep cable car ride. Koyasan is the origin of a popular Buddhist sect, Shingon Buddhism. We stayed overnight in a temple, Shojoshinin (Picture 3) -a very quiet place! After arriving, we took a walk through the cemetery that approaches Okunoin, the temple where the remains of the founder of Shingon Buddhism are kept (although followers instead would say that this is where Kobo Dashi rests in eternal meditation). It's a very striking area (Picture 4), with thousands of moss-covered gravestones, large cypress trees, lanterns, and memorials. There are some amusing stones as well, especially those built by companies for their employees, like the UCC (a coffee company) stone coffee cup and one built by a termite exterminator for all the bugs it has killed.

The vegetarian (plus no garlic & onions) dinner was served at 5:30, and it was delicious - tofu, beans, two kinds of soup, squash, some tempura and, of course, rice. Luckily for Laurea, there was also pineapple and kiwi (and we brought along some raisins).

We then took a nighttime walk through the same area to see the same area lit by lanterns, as well as the Hall of Lanterns (each of which has been donated by politicians, etc., for a hefty fee).

The following morning, the gongs rang at 5:00 a.m., and again at 6:00 a.m. It is strongly recommended that guests of the monastery attend the morning service, but we didn't think it was something Laurea could sit through quietly. So, Russ attended and enjoyed the chanting of the sutras.

At 7:00, breakfast was served in a nice room by the temple garden: sesame tofu, miso soup, rice, and tea. We were surprised that there was actually a TV in the breakfast room, but luckily, people didn't use it.

Since moss-covered cemeteries are not exactly Laurea's cup of tea, after breakfast, we walked down the road that goes through the small town and found a playground. However, even by the swing set, we still weren't far from a temple or pagoda (Picture 5)!