Nagoyama Cemetery

     

Nagoyama Cemetery is near our apartment and can be seen from many points in central Himeji. We had wanted to visit it since we moved to Himeji but somehow we hadn't been able to make it until now. It is on a hill and has a main stupa that can be seen from our apartment. The ashes of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, are said to be stored in the altar. On the day we were exploring the area the stupa was closed, so we will have to go back in the future. There are also many graves that contain soldiers and family burials. There was an observation deck on one of the hills. You had a great view of the city. While we were there we saw a few other people walking around with their families and even walking their dogs. It is a common spot for people to come to pray and take a stroll. We don't typically go for a stroll on a Saturday morning through a cemetery but Nagoyama does deliver some peaceful, scenic views.