Cemeteries of the World: The Eerie, The Beautiful, and The Quirky
Maybe you never really get to know a place until you see where they lay their loved ones to rest.
by Andy Flores | October 25, 2017
Nestled in the woods of Mt. Koya is Japan’s largest cemetery, where some 200,000 memorials of monks are erected, including the mausoleum of the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi, who also known as Kukai. Illuminating the Buddhist master’s resting place are 10,000 lanterns which are eternally kept lit. This UNESCO-listed site is also home to some of the world’s most unusual memorials, such as monuments for termites exterminated by pest control services and fish killed for sashimi.
If you want to see these for yourself, the best time to visit Okunoin Cemetery is during the observance of Obon, Japan’s “feast of souls,” which falls during the summer months.