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Candle festival in western Japan

Candles are lit to form the Chinese character for "bloom" in the annual candle festival at Okunoin cemetery at the Kongobuji temple in Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2025.

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People purify themselves by bathing in cold water at Koyasan

HASHIMOTO, Japan - Followers of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism in the Koyasan area in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama bath in cold water to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary of the Kongobuji temple on Jan. 24, 2010. The wintertime dip is carried out for religious training purposes.

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People purify themselves by taking a wintertime dip

KOYA, Japan - People bath in cold water to purify themselves for religious training purposes at the Okunoin area of Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture on Jan. 21.

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Winter ascetic practices begin at Buddhist temple

Midwinter ascetic practices begin Jan. 24 at the Okunoin precinct of the Koyasan Buddhist monastic complex in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. The photo shows believers who joined the training in snowy weather, chanting sutra in cold river water for 10 minutes to purify themselves from their earthly desires. The seasonal practices will last until early February.

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Candle festival at temple in western Japan

People light candles on a path leading to Okunoin temple during a candle festival in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2022.

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Candle festival at temple in western Japan

People light candles on a path leading to Okunoin temple during a candle festival in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2022.

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Candle festival at temple in western Japan

People light candles on a path leading to Okunoin temple during a candle festival in the Wakayama Prefecture town of Koya, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2022.

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Goddess of Mercy statue unveiled for 1st time in 243 yrs

KYOTO, Japan - Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto unveiled the Goddess of Mercy statue to reporters for the first time in 243 years on March 3, prior to public viewing March 7 through Dec. 7. The wooden image, which is 64.3 centimeters tall, has 27 faces and 42 arms and was housed in its Okunoin annex. (Kyodo)

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Cold water ritual in western Japan

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of a Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 24, 2021.

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Candle festa held at cemetery in Koya mountain range, western Japan

A candle festival is held on the approach to the Okunoin cemetery in the Koya mountain range, the center of Japan's Shingon school of Buddhism, in Koya, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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People purify themselves by taking a wintertime dip

KOYA, Japan - People bath in cold water to purify themselves for religious training purposes at the Okunoin area of Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture on Jan. 21. (Kyodo)

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Ohashi Bridge at the entrance to the inner sanctum,Mt. Koya

Okunoin, located on the east side of Mt. Koya, is the sacred land surrounding the grave of the founder, Kobo-Taishi, or Kukai. The worship of Kobo-Taishi spread from Mt. Koya throughout Japan during the Kamakura Period, and now more than 200,000 graves, large and small, can be seen from Ohashi Bridge (Ichino-hashi) at the entrance to the area and the grave of Kobo-Taishi.==Date:unknown, Place:Wakayama, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number71‐6‐0]

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Otowa kannon statue at kyoto kiyomizudera temple

The Shakado, Amidado and Okunoin are located down the corridors from the main hall of Kyomizu Temple. The Amidado is said to be the place where Honen started his meditations. The main Buddha is the wooden Dainichi Nyoraizo (or Denkannon) with samurai standing on both sides. Stone lanterns stand in front of the stone pagoda.==Date:unknown, Place:Kyoto, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number6‐2‐0]

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People purify themselves by bathing in cold water at Koyasan

HASHIMOTO, Japan - Followers of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism in the Koyasan area in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama bath in cold water to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary of the Kongobuji temple on Jan. 24, 2010. The wintertime dip is carried out for religious training purposes. (Kyodo)

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Cold water ritual in western Japan

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of a Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 24, 2021.

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Cold water ritual in western Japan

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of a Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 24, 2021.

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Mt. Koya in Japan's Wakayama Prefecture

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture on Jan. 27, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cold water ritual in western Japan

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of a Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cold water ritual in western Japan

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of a Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Mt. Koya candle festival

People light candles on a path leading to Okunoin Temple during a candle festival at Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cold water ritual in western Japan

People bathe in cold water and chant sutras as part of a Buddhist training to purify themselves at the Okunoin inner sanctuary on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Winter ascetic practices begin at Buddhist temple

Midwinter ascetic practices begin Jan. 24 at the Okunoin precinct of the Koyasan Buddhist monastic complex in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. The photo shows believers who joined the training in snowy weather, chanting sutra in cold river water for 10 minutes to purify themselves from their earthly desires. The seasonal practices will last until early February. ==Kyodo