How Did Eddie Van Halen Get Cancer

November 2008: Osaka Castle and Osaka, Koyasan

In November I was invited by one of my students to visit the Mount Koya. He is about 3 hours south of Osaka, in Wakayama Prefecture.

Mount Koya is probably one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in Japan. The Kongôbu-ji is the Hauptempel of Shingon Buddhism and the cemetery houses the graves of celebrities like Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga (and tons of other shoguns, whose name I could even remember nciht).

When we were so they were ruled, about 0 degrees and there was a bit of snow.
much except the temple can be seen, however. The village there has wirklcih only restaurants and the temples. The whole mountain is only for temple buildings: D

During our visit, we are therefore still very traditional (you must do this if you are on the Koya) - eat a Buddhist food. Zeuch consisting of vegetarian. In short: tofu, tempura of squash, mushrooms, vegetables and sweet potatoes. Then still more vegetables, this time loaded, miso soup, mushrooms and of course it rice.

It has unfortunately in the middle started to rain quite icy and my shoes were then completely soaked. ; _; End up with wet shoes, we are already going to my personal highlight: the Oku no In, the cemetery. The atmosphere was incredible, thanks to the gloomy foggy day. You have to imagine it this way: is there right in the cedar forest (which is actually looks really pretty mystical and very impressive) just like a HUGE cemetery. and all these, with moss-covered stone tombs make much Atmospheric * _ * (yes I liked that!)

Recommended is the homepage of the Temple: HERE Click

	the cable car up to the summit with Einweiserin course, one could even run on the 20m long way to the little train. You never know
	Koyasan small impression of the village
	Kongôbu-ji On main temple of Koyasan while the main temple of the Shingon school, Here, have the already massive Pilder immortalized. In Japan there is his name or any other greeting printed on such a small paper sticker can (now on machines) .. But see the very traditional: D
	And again ..
	small garden in Kongôbu-ji. The temple dates way back to the 16th Century, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi ..
	dragon ornament with SNOW! I thought that was so awesome * v *
	So you could go inside the sprawling complex of buildings. Unfortunately msuste off one's shoes; _; in order 0Grad this was something very cold.
	... paid but fortunately nothing then gabs ne tea and candy, if you already occurring anyway. So then there were a few lonely pilgrims and tourists and we have ourselves in a huge room ...
	... so about the outside temperature had aufgewärt. The only heat source was the tea and such a fan heater.
	Affairs: D
	backyard: D The Rock Garden is supposedly Japan's largest garden of the Art
	Again Garden
	The Monastery kitchen still relatively original.
	prototype rice cooker: DDD
	Fudôdô beautiful old hall, I liked her very much * __ * v is also a national treasure.
	Konpon Daito The central pagoda of Koya and at the same landmark
	Miedo 19th Centuries appealed to me personally now better than the red pagoda: D
	shrine on the site
	Small Pagoda
	A temple Hotel .. times in a very unusual color O_O;
	gateway to Koyasan If, as an ordinary pilgrim then, from the bottom of the mountain, climbed without a rope web, then it was probably from there and the first goal has seen, that must have been quite impressive, because of usn from just before the tor it was relatively steep downhill O_O
	! It was the first time that it was so cold for me, we had until then always so 20 degrees.
	My personal highlight: Oku no in The entrance to the cemetery, the Oku no in.
	Toyotomi Hideyoshi grave of that very
	Oda Nobunaga ... almost next door.
	The entrance to the part where the imperial family is buried. Unfortunately, we could shoot in the temple no longer there.
	only graves as far as the eye last.
	And back With the small cable car

Sorry, Sorry, it was wirklcih sooo cold that I ever wanted to quickly take pictures and then have my fingers a little bit much shaking , which is why my photos have become very blurry, unfortunately. Therefore here are some official and compensation: