Aug 14, 2012 - 1 min read

A Rinno-ji Temple Cemetery in Nikko

Ancient resting place for monks near Narabi Jizo

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

A tranquil final resting place for the monks that served Rinno-ji Temple

These two statues were particularly impressive

Statue with cedar tree in the background

A variety of gravestones and statues

Entrance to the cemetery

Moss covering an ancient statue

Some of the stones have tilted, perhaps due to earthquakes

The gravestones, statues and cedar trees all add to the beauty and tranqulity

Some of the stones are quite big, while others are quite small

Just next to the Narabi Jizo Statues area, there are steps that lead up to a cemetery exclusively for the monks that have died over the centuries while serving Rinno-ji Temple in Nikko. The temple’s history goes all the way back to 766 A.D., and its more recent history to the days when Toshogu Shrine was built and flourished in the early to mid 1600s. There are hundreds of gravestones here, some of them quite old. Some of the statues are truly beautiful. It is a tranquil and peaceful location, far from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Nikko.

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Larry Knipfing

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina 6 years ago

Very ancient, indeed!

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