<p>Another pagoda in the grounds of Mangan-ji</p>

Another pagoda in the grounds of Mangan-ji (Photo: Rod Walters)

Mangan-ji Temple in Kure

A mountainside temple with one hell of a view...

Anonymous Nov 02, 2012 - 1 min read

<p>Another pagoda in the grounds of Mangan-ji</p>

<p>As you steam into Kure Port, you can see Mangan-ji Temple beyond the warships</p>

<p>On the climb up to the temple, I got lost in a cemetery with rust-coloured graves</p>

<p>A deliciously scented 'kinmokusei'—fragrant olive—at the temple entrance</p>

<p>The temple grounds are well-looked after and quite attractive</p>

<p>The pagoda itself is modern and made of concrete</p>

<p>The view is frankly shocking—such contrasts!</p>

<p>Kannon, Goddess of Mercy, and warships</p>

<p>And another pagoda on the way up, a memorial to the battleship Yamato</p>

You can see Mangan-ji Temple on the hillside as you steam into Kure. I was there on a stupendously grey day in early autumn and I felt drawn to climb the steep hill to the temple. The view wasn't picturesque in the conventional sense, but it was very interesting nonetheless.

Anonymous @rod.walters__archived

I was born in Bristol, England, and I came to Japan in 1991 … which means I’ve lived half my life in this island nation on the other side of the world. The theme of my career in Japan has been communication. I started as an English teacher, and moved into translation as I learned Japanese....