Japan Day 4, Part 2: Ninna-ji pagoda and guardians

The grounds of the Ninna-ji temple complex are extensive, and even the outlying buildings were hardly small. The main gate was large, and contained enormous wooden statues of guardians. The temple felt as much a fortress as a place of worship.

The expressive statues were the size of fabled giants.

Uphill, further into the grounds, were gardens and small artful temple buildings.

This small gate was ornately shaped.

The curve of the roof of some gates and buildings were designed to be visual continuations of the mountains behind them.

The most impressive point was a five story pagoda.

The stone lanterns around the pagoda housed carefully placed pine cones.