Friday, January 1, 2010

okuno-in, koya-san and some other randoms

besides kongo-buji, the other big draw of koya-san is okuno-in, the mausoleum or graveyard.

apparently buddhists aim to have their remains buried there, and many of the plots have been bought up by corporations, somewhat like a company plot for the presidents of the companies and so on.

DSC_0132

DSC_0134

this below is apparently a memorial erected by a pest company, to atone for killing all those pests.

DSC_0135

DSC_0138

the entrance of okuno-in:

DSC_0136

DSC_0140

DSC_0141

DSC_0142

DSC_0144

DSC_0145

some of the signs there are really old and have toppled:

DSC_0148

these rounded things were a common sight:

DSC_0149

DSC_0152

i didnt find okuno-in creepy at all, partly because there were 3 of us there in the day, but also because it’s actually a rather open area. you can see the sky and the trees dont form a roof over you.

DSC_0162

a sign asking you not to litter:

DSC_0163

the panasonic company plot:

DSC_0167

DSC_0171

the grave of oda nobunaga, a very significant person in japanese history. we were disappointed that it was so nondescript.

DSC_0174

the japanese like to stick coins in stuff, and this is a really good example of their obsession:

DSC_0178

this, i believe, is a memorial for a photographic association. it’s crazy:

DSC_0180

DSC_0181

here’s another crazy memorial:

 DSC_0184 

DSC_0186

after okuno-in, we headed to the mausolea of the tokugawas. the family was extremely influential, and we expected something grand and big and impressive:

DSC_0190

DSC_0191

that was all there is, and i snuck a shot through the fence:

DSC_0188

what an utter letdown!

to end off, here’s a picture of the most unattractive plastic food display that i’ve ever seen in japan – mouldy curry spaghetti:

DSC_0194

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey!
Just wanted to say I really enjoy your blog and thank you so much for writing certain tips and suggestions on one's personal statement. I am in that process right now. I hope to join with a company that is based in HImeji!