Reihōkan Museum霊宝館れいほうかん

Reihōkan Museum

Visitors to Mt. Kōya, or to many other religious sites in Japan, are sometimes disappointed to find that many buildings cannot be entered or that the treasures inside are often hidden from view. Even more sadly, certain priceless objects have been lost to various disasters that have occurred over the centuries. Located across the street and a bit to the east of the Lotus Pond of the Danjō-garan, the Reihōkan, or Museum of Sacred Treasures, offers visitors a chance to view many of the cultural treasures belonging to the various temples and halls of Mt. Kōya.

The original wing of the museum, established in 1921, and a newer annex, added in 1998, present permanent and special exhibitions of sculptures, paintings, mandala, ritual implements, and texts -- many of which have been designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government.Not to be missed are the large paintings entitled "Amida's Descent to Welcome the Faithful into Paradise" and "The Reclining Buddha;" as well as sculptures of "The Eight Attendants of Fudō Myō'ō" and a carved triptych known as the "Shrine of the Buddhist Deities." Two replicas of the enormous Diamond Realm and Womb Realm Mandala are also quite impressive. Special exhibits often include examples of Kūkai's handwriting, offering a chance to see why, among other remarkable accomplishments, he is also regarded as one of Japan's greatest calligraphers.

View of Entrance to Reihōkan — Entrance to Reihōkan

KoyaQuest

KoyaQuest

KoyaQuest