Zentsuji Temple

Last Monday, we went to the Zentsuji Temple with our friends, the Jensen's. Zentsuji is the birthplace of Kōbō Daishi (弘法大師), a Japanese monk who founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism. He also founded the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Zentsuji is about fifteen minutes away. The temple grounds are beautiful and a popular tourist spot. If you go at closing, you can hear the monks praying in the temple.
Here is the famous five story pagoda:

This statue is among hundreds of various statues representing different gods. He's my favorite!


Tourism on sacred ground:

The ancient Buddha:


In front of that temple ( I know, Cash is way too big for his sling now!):

These stones represent each temple on the 88 temple circuit. There is a pathway around the stones, so that you can have your own mini-pilgrimage!