500 Rakan 喜多院 五百羅漢
Lifestyle/Hobbies | Avg price: ¥450 | English Available: None (Unknown)
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Find your zodiac animal
Among the 500 rakan statues, representing the disciples of Buddha, 12 are depicted with the animals of the zodiac. Its not easy, but its a lot of fun, especially for children, to find your zodiac animal. If your stuck - look at the ones that have a lot of one or five yen coins on them! A lot, but not all, of the ones with coins are the zodiac animals. Mine, the snake, pictured above. Years ago there was always a man at reception, but in recent years the reception desk is often unmanned. However, there is usually a map in the reception area with the zodiac animals pinpointed, if you can't find them on your own.
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on Dec 23
A host of Buddha's disciples in stone
Admission to see the stone statues of 500 arhats, disciples of Buddha, is included with your ticket to see Kitain, the main temple in Kawagoe City. Don't miss these fellows. The statues, carved in the 18th and 19th century, are each unique for their expressions, poses, and items they hold. Local lore says that if you go to the rakan at night, touch one that is warm, it will be the one that resembles you! I've chatted with other visitors here many times. Some say you might see the faces of your friends or parents. I just like to bring my friends here to see the creativity and warmth with which the Shogun-era artists depicted the Buddhist saints.
BigfamJapan
on Jan 3