The Ishiteji temple in Matsuyama

One of the strangest temples we've visited was Ishiteji in Matsuyama. We didn't know exactly where it was or what we were in store for...just had a brief description in our guide book about weird statues and secret tunnels. We arrived at what looked like a pretty standard temple, though a bit run-down looking yet very colorful. Thinking that perhaps this wasn't the right place, we started walking up the hill beside the temple complex, where we encountered these statues in what appeared to be a cemetery. Further up the hill we came to a large golden dome with this statue outside. Leo, being curious, entered the door in the middle of the dome and called for me to come in as well. The place was dark and smelled of mildew, but I climbed up the steps inside the door and found myself surrounded by at least a hundred carved wooden statues staring at me (with some random red cushioned theater seats scattered throughout the room).

Just across the street from the domed complex we found this tunnel opening, so of course we went inside. Several stone buddahs were set in a line in the middle of the tunnel, which was quite dark at times, and there were various rooms we explored filled with statues and drawings. I learned that day that I'm not a big fan of dark tunnels, so Leo held my hand much of the way. We emerged behind the main temple we had first come to that day.

Very odd place, but if you're in Matsuyama you definitely must go there.