I had almost finished when I noticed the low afternoon light, so I walked back. It fell across the five coloured cloths, the wooden ema and the gold sign. You can see the pattern woven into the cloth.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Chikurin-ji, Kochi

#kochi #japantemple #larryphoto

The chain hanging from these eaves is a kusari-doi, a drainpipe carrying rainwater from the roof to the ground. They say it was made to be looked at from the start: the falling water is the point.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Chikurin-ji, Kochi

#kochi #japantemple #larryphoto

From below, the steps ran up through the maples. From above, the stone paving ran underneath them instead. The same path, turned around. Oh, and the traveller on the bench was still sitting there.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Chikurin-ji, Kochi

#kochi #autumnleaves #larryphoto

They say many deer once lived on this mountain, until a sickness took them one by one. This stone deer was left so people today could still see them. It seems happy enough, looking up at the maples.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Chikurin-ji, Kochi

#kochi #japantemple #larryphoto

Did you notice? She is smiling right at us, and there is a cub tucked against her chest. The mother wears a red cloth; the cub wears a child's bib with little bears printed on it.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Hiyoshi Shrine, Chikurin-ji

#kochi #komainu #larryphoto

The beams inside this gate are covered with paper slips, each one carrying a name. People who could not stay overnight to pray left one instead, as if they themselves were still standing there.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Niomon Gate, Chikurin-ji

#kochi #japantemple #larryphoto

The first hall I stopped at was ringed with green, orange and red maple. Someone has thought hard about how this garden is planted. Through the gaps in the leaves, the hall felt old and simple.

Captured on Dec 1, 2025 | Chikurin-ji, Kochi

#kochi #autumnleaves #larryphoto