A hidden gem full of weird and fun statues
So you’re at Itsukushima Shrine and just finished looking at the beautiful Shinto torii in the water. Now what? Well, if you’re willing to walk a bit, there’s a Buddhist temple nearby called Daishoin (大聖院). If you’ve gotten one of those flyers detailing the popular spots, perhaps you noticed it on the corner of the map. I had no expectations going in, so what I found was actually quite fun and enjoyable.
According to the brilliant minds of Wikipedia, Daishoin was founded by Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. What struck me most about this place was its variety of stone figures.
It’s like a little parade of guys with caps 
Mr. Kappa is deep in thought. 
Whaaaaat. Says the statue. 
Classic tengu statue. 
Reclining Buddha. 
The modern way of donating to Buddhist monks 
Mm, that expression… 
Where is he looking, I wonder…?
If that’s not strange and fun enough for you already, you’ll find a cool hall in one of the buildings. It’s full of unique ceiling lighting that feels quite exotic, even if you’ve been to a million other temples.
And on your way out, don’t forget to make a wish…
And spin a couple of these sutra-spinny-contraptions. It’s a symbolic gesture of reading the sutras.
Getting to Miyajima
You can get to Miyajima, and thus Daishoin via the JR ferry. If you have the Japan Rail Pass, it’s covered! What a great way to explore Japan, eh?
Enjoy the strange statues, and don’t forget to explore the rest of Miyajima!
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