<p>Stone figures of Rakan, Buddha's disciples, along the stone steps to the temple</p>

Stone figures of Rakan, Buddha's disciples, along the stone steps to the temple (Photo: Yuri Sasano)

Banzan Daibaiji Zen Temple Hike

Hike the trail of a Zen Buddhist Saint in Sendai

Yuri Sasano Jul 16, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Stone figures of Rakan, Buddha's disciples, along the stone steps to the temple</p>

<p>Two statues of "Hudo" are standing on the way to ward off evil spirits. Take nice photos with them and ask for their pardon to tread on the trail</p>

<p>The main hall of Banzan Daibaiji  Zen Temple</p>

<p>A unique figure of Rakan</p>

<p>A roughly 320 year old Japanese cypress rests in the temple's garden</p>

<p>A stone figure with a baby deer in his arms</p>

<p>The outcome of this game has not been decided for a very long time</p>

<p>Mizuko-kuyodo, a temple of a guardian deity for the spirits of miscarried children </p>

<p>Stone step trail going though a green forest</p>

<p>Several stone figures of Jizo Bosatsu, a guardian for travelers, are seen along the trail side</p>

<p>The mountain trail is surrounded by greenery and serenity</p>

<p>This small hall is the resting-place of Ungo-Zenji, a prominent Zen Buddhist and a mentor of the Date clan in the early 17th century</p>

<p>View from a trail to the mountain top</p>

Banzan Daibaiji Zen temple is located on the foot of Banzan mountain, where the prominent Zen monk Ungo-zenji settled down after he had worked as a master of Zuiganji Temple in Matsushima. The trail starts from the temple's site, where unique figures of Rakan, Buddhist diciples, are seen. A three kilometer trail takes less than one hour to reach the mountain top (alt. 376 m). There is a small hall, Kaizando, a resting-place of Ungo-zenji. Banzan is considered a sacred place, and it is loved by locals as an accessible hiking destination.

Yuri Sasano

Yuri Sasano @yuri.sasano