Roadside temples

Between Hiyoshi and Shirokawa in Ehime can be found roadside 'temples'. These are open sheds that house Buddhist statuary. They look as though they would be good for sitting around relaxing in, although nobody does.

Around Ishite

Shrine near Ishiteji Temple

Contributing the bizarre atmosphere of Ishiteji Temple are decaying concrete statues like this one, dotted about in the grounds and the hills around. They are an unintentional Buddhist reminder of constant change and impermanence.

A walk through the tunnel behind Ishiteji brings you to another temple complex on the hill. This one features a large statue of the Buddha in his self-mortification phase. The cockerels that live in the precincts do not practice self-mortification.

Giant statue of Kūkai, posthumously known as Kōbō-Daishi.

Cat in the grounds of Ishiteji.

Ishiteji Temple tunnels

The temple of Ishiteji has a truly bizarre system of tunnels running up the hill behind it. The attractions inside the tunnel are supposed to represent the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage.

Dogo - all higgledy piggledy 1

Tennis courts near the free car park

Youth hostel on stilts with tree houses

Wedding at Isaniwa Shrine

Militaristic paintings in the shrine precincts

View from the shrine

Graveyard

Ippen-san regular community event at Takaraganji temple

Wacky drying pole

Buildings at every angle and level

Alley