ADASHINO NENBUTSU-JI

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji is located in the north-western suburb of Kyoto and was founded by a Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi in 811. The temple is dedicated to the soul of people who died alone, without family and their bodies were brought and left in the area without burial for centuries. In the front of the temple are over 8000 roughly carved statues of Buddha in the memory of the people who died abandoned. Every year in August 23rd-24th a religious ceremony is observed. Visitors light candles, chant sutras and pray for the unknown souls.