Kousanji

An amazing temple on a small island

Open as a museum, this temple really is a wonderful work of art! It is profusely decorated and painted with thousands of intricate details. It dates back to 1936 and was made by a businessman to honour his late mother. Although not as old, it reminded me of Toshogu shrine in Nikko, because of its baroque appearance. Next to the temple, there is the Hill of Hope, a wide space with sculptures made of marble brought from Italy. It is also a spectacular place, with the white stone combining perfectly with the deep blue sky and the Seto Inland Sea on the background. It is a popular place, so you probably won't be alone if you visit, but the striking view is really worth it. On the premises there is also an old Japanese villa with great architecture (separate ticket for 200 yen) and the Thousand Buddha Cave (currently closed due to covid). Even though the admission is quite pricey, it is worth visiting if you enjoy beautiful views. Also, I really hope that they can use the money to restore some parts of the temple where the paint is not in the best condition. This place should be protected and preserved!