Ryozenji, or the Temple of the Vulture Peak, is traditionally the first stop on Shikoku’s famed 88 Temple Pilgrimage, established by disciples of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and the great temple complex at Koyasan. Actually, many pilgrims begin in Koyasan, announcing their intent...

If you set out on foot from the Ropeway terminal at the top of Mt. Misen, youfll find the Reika-do Hall. According to legend, this is the spot where the great monk Kobo Daishi performed ascetic practices in the year 806 AD. The founder of Shingon Buddhism, he is also called Kukai in Japan. Kukai i...

Kobo Daishi chose Koyasan largely for its topography. Eight peaks, suggesting the eight petals of a lotus, surround the valley. In fact, the entire valley of Koyasan stands at the center of an enormous mandala covering the mountain and, by extension, all of Japan. And the Konpon Daito, the “Funda...