Koyasan

Koyasan- a town in the mountains southwest of Kyoto dedicated almost entirely to Kobo Daishi, a Shingon buddhist monk who went into a shrine to meditate in 836, and still is to this day (as far as esoteric buddhists are concerned).  

Eko-in (the monastery where we stayed)

We stayed in a small monastery there.  Paper walls protecting us from snow, up at 7 for morning prayers and the fire ceremony, daily rituals that esoterics practice.  Then vegetarian breakfast, (and dinner) some the of the best food we've had thus far, beautifully prepared and arranged onto small plates-- the monk's diet.   

Snow and cemeteries, temples, temples, and more temples, Buddhas, and monks everywhere.  A truly sacred place.   I have never been more cold inside of a building, and I have never been more thankful for heated toilet seats. 

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