Gohyaku Rakan in Kawagoe

Less than an hour by train from central Tokyo, Kawagoe makes for a great day-trip destination. The city’s Kitain Temple not only features the last surviving buildings of the original Edo Castle, it is also home to the Gohyaku Rakan, 540 stone statues of Buddha’s disciples. Dating back to the 18th and 19th century, each of these statues was carved with a unique expression, with none of them looking alike.