Nishi Ōtani, Buddhist cemetery and mausoleum in Higashiyama-ku, Japan
Nishi Ōtani is a Buddhist cemetery and mausoleum in Higashiyama-ku, Japan, that spreads across several terraced levels built into the hillside. Stone pathways connect different sections with gravestones, memorial steles, and small altars for the deceased.
The mausoleum was built in 1272 for Shinran, who founded the Jodo Shinshu school. In 1603, the site moved to its current location on the slope of Higashiyama.
The grounds serve as the final resting place for followers of the Jodo Shinshu school and take their name from the founder of this Buddhist tradition. Visitors can observe the well-kept memorial stones and experience the quiet prayer atmosphere maintained daily by the faithful.
The cemetery lies about a ten-minute walk from Gojo Station on the Keihan Main Line and is also accessible by taxi from Kyoto Station. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as the pathways cross several levels and can be steep in places.
Each year in August, ten thousand lanterns transform the grounds into a sea of light during the Higashi Otani Mantoe Festival. Many of these lanterns are hand-painted and crafted by local kindergarten children.
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