A shrine building at one of the temples we visited on day 2. Notice on the extreme right there is a large white object. It is a drink machine where you pay about 150 yen for a small can of beverage.
The roofed area in front of the main hall has a pilgrim placing incense in the large kettle, which will be mostly filled with sand and above that a layer of ashes from the incense sticks.
I believe that the writing below the statue of the Bodhisattva says
clean heart, something that is a prerequisite for a true pilgrimage. If you do not have one at the start, you are supposed to develop one along the way. Also, notice that right behind the statue is a private house. Many of the temples, those not on mountain tops, are right in built up areas and surrounded by regular housing.
The next two pictures show the guarding kings who stand in the spaces on either side of the main gate to the temple. They protect the temple and keep out evil spirits, particularly those that come in the hearts of men.
The roofed area in front of the main hall has a pilgrim placing incense in the large kettle, which will be mostly filled with sand and above that a layer of ashes from the incense sticks.
I believe that the writing below the statue of the Bodhisattva says clean heart, something that is a prerequisite for a true pilgrimage. If you do not have one at the start, you are supposed to develop one along the way. Also, notice that right behind the statue is a private house. Many of the temples, those not on mountain tops, are right in built up areas and surrounded by regular housing.
The next two pictures show the guarding kings who stand in the spaces on either side of the main gate to the temple. They protect the temple and keep out evil spirits, particularly those that come in the hearts of men.
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