Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City

left: Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City. This is the third largest wooden structure in Japan.











left: Lion sitting on top of incense pot in front of
the main temple













left: Beautiful lion

















left: Sculpture at Zenkoji

















left: This figure was stunning. It stopped me dead in my tracks when I saw it at Zenkoji.

















left: Porch of main temple































































left: Man in front of street entrance to Zenkoji

















left: East meets West for a milkshake and fries (click the picture for a better view).












left: These girls have just come from high school graduation (diplomas come in the form of scrolls--see the red boxes in their hands). The yukatas they are wearing are rented for the occaision. Some girls wear traditional kimonos to graduation and pay $1,000 or more to rent them for a single day. My school has asked girls to stop wearing kimonos, and instead girls are asked to wear simple black dress suits because of the expense. On graduation day, kimonos separate the Haves from the Have-Nots. The yukatas are a bit cheaper, but still expensiveto rent.

left: Pagoda at Zenkoji