<p>Waterfalls down from the temple</p>

Waterfalls down from the temple (Photo: Hannah Warren)

Tranquil Mystery at Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple

The majestic temple in the afternoon light

Hannah Warren Sep 26, 2013 - 1 min read

<p>Waterfalls down from the temple</p>

<p>Steps winding through the forest between buildings</p>

<p>The very impressive main entry gate</p>

<p>Stone markers covered in moss</p>

<p>Age has left these stone markers almost illegible.</p>

<p>Leafy entryways</p>

<p>Rows and rows of wooden markers</p>

<p>A broad courtyard across a bowl of water</p>

<p>Water drops</p>

<p>Pagoda on the lake</p>

<p>Steps to the main hall</p>

<p>The breathtaking gold chandelier inside the main hall</p>

<p>Looking straight up into the middle of the light</p>

<p>The beautiful detailing on the doors</p>

<p>Fierce faces and pretty beads</p>

<p>Intimidating characters</p>

<p>216 steps to the top. I counted.</p>

<p>The bright colors stood out among the colors of the forest.</p>

<p>A network of hiking trails meander through the forest around the temple.</p>

<p>The path out, back to the real world.</p>

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple is a complex of temple buildings, statues and waterfalls, all nestled into a beautiful forest full of towering cedar trees. It's peaceful, quiet and mysterious, and it's easy to forget the rest of the world as you wander the paths that take you from building to building, and out into the meandering network of overgrown trails that spread out from the temple into the silent forest.

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Find out more about Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple.

Hannah Warren

Hannah Warren @hannah.warren

Hannah lives in Sydney and spends most of her time dreaming of being somewhere else. She loves karaoke, hates making plans in advance, and will probably never be able to read a map.