Koya-san and stay with Buddhist monks

A little southeast from Osaka is a place called Koya-san.  This is the Buddhist center of Japan.  It's up a moutain and on the way up you see beautiful forests.  The town is quite dead, not many people, shops, or restaurants.  Plenty of Buddhist temples.  It is a nice change of pace from Tokyo and Osaka.  I love the Buddhist temples, as there are tons of open space, simple temples, and gorgeous nature.  You can't help of meditate or contemplate.  There is a serene feeling that is around, and you can't help but feel at peace. 

We stay at a Buddhist monastery called SEIKHON, right next to the OKU-NO-IN CEMETARY.  As creepy as it sounds, the cemetary was really nice to walk through.  It goes for miles, and it is in the middle of a forest.  Toward the end, there is a nice Buddhist temple.  At the monastery, we are immediately welcomed with some green tea and put to ease that they are not super strict.  We have to sit on our knees or Samurai style (which we know it as Indian style...legs crossed).  Only way of sitting they will not allow is sitting with feet facing Buddha during prayers.  The lodging is nice and Japanese style.  In the rooms are tatami matt floors, futon pads, but decked out with a nice Japanese toilet complete with seat warmer.  Although it is Japanese style, there still some modern amenities such as a safe, telephone, and television.  The food was really nice, and elaborate vegetarian meal called SHOJIN-RYORI.  We also receive a woven bracelet as a blessing.  Since they are not that stict, we are allowed to purchase beer and sake during dinner.  After dinner, I partake in the ONSEN, a nice Japanese public bath.  They are separated by gender, and you have to shower well before entering the bath.  It is filled with steaming hot water and really helps you undwind before the night's end.

Bright and early in the morning, 6:30 AM, we join the monks in prayer.  The dim room is filled with hypnotic chanting and the smell of insense.  I am glad I got to witness and partake in the prayers.  After prayers, we have a nice breakfast prepared by the monks before departing back to Osaka.