500 Buddha Statues

While in Morioka City, a tour was arranged and we stopped at Hoonji Temple, the site of 500 statues of holy people who deserve other's offerings (called rakans)  included here are Marco Polo and Kublai Khan.  But I didn't know which one that statue was and the english pamphlet did not point out which one.

From Japan

From Japan

There is also a Zen Hall where I listened to the monotonic drum beats of the monk as people sat to meditate.  I have to point out that you have to keep the noise down.

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