This Shingon temple, originally founded by a disciple of Kūkai, is located deep in the mountains outside Osaka. It’s superlative carved hidden buddha of Kannon in the ‘style of royal ease’ is opened to the public once a year, on the 17th of April, and closed the next day.

(The story of the rape of this image related in HIDDEN BUDDHAS is true.)

entrance gate

graveyard in compound

steps to temple grounds

imperial mausoleum

(where Koji met Tokuda)

Kanshinji’s

hidden buddha