Another of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage temples. This one we again ran into by accident, and thought we would check it out, seeing how we were already there. Here is the information the sign said, which I found interesting , "According to the legend at the end of the 16th century, at the time of the fall of the powerful Kono family line, the remaining clan members gathered here at Gian-ji Temple. Upon drinking the sacred water from the spring they vowed to serve the Kono lord forever, before dying together, each by his own sword. The spring still remains and is known at the "Spring of Oaths" . Legend has it that the souls of the samarai who committed such ritual suicide were reborn as fireflies, which appear every summer. This species of firefly is large in size, and although actually called, "Genji Botaru" (Genji Firefly), they are known locally as, "Gian-ji Botaru" , after the temple. Many people journey to this temple, even from outside of Ehime [that is the prefecture] to take part in the pilgrimage..."
Above: Fortunes tied onto trees.
Incense burning. I LOVE that smell. It smelled so good here. I never liked the smell in America, but now I associate it as the "temple smell". It's rather nice.
Here is the graveyard by the temple. People in Japan are cremated, so I guess it really isn't properly a graveyard, it's more of a cemetery.
Here are some palm trees. It seems a strange place for them, as I don't see too many palm trees here (except for my trip to Kyushu).
Another of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage temples. This one we again ran into by accident, and thought we would check it out, seeing how we were already there. Here is the information the sign said, which I found interesting , "According to the legend at the end of the 16th century, at the time of the fall of the powerful Kono family line, the remaining clan members gathered here at Gian-ji Temple. Upon drinking the sacred water from the spring they vowed to serve the Kono lord forever, before dying together, each by his own sword. The spring still remains and is known at the "Spring of Oaths" . Legend has it that the souls of the samarai who committed such ritual suicide were reborn as fireflies, which appear every summer. This species of firefly is large in size, and although actually called, "Genji Botaru" (Genji Firefly), they are known locally as, "Gian-ji Botaru" , after the temple. Many people journey to this temple, even from outside of Ehime [that is the prefecture] to take part in the pilgrimage..."
Above: Fortunes tied onto trees. 
Incense burning. I LOVE that smell. It smelled so good here. I never liked the smell in America, but now I associate it as the "temple smell". It's rather nice. 
Here is the graveyard by the temple. People in Japan are cremated, so I guess it really isn't properly a graveyard, it's more of a cemetery. 
Here are some palm trees. It seems a strange place for them, as I don't see too many palm trees here (except for my trip to Kyushu).
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