Toji

World Heritage site Toji is best known for its landmark pagoda, Japan’s tallest, but is also home to a host of National Treasures. Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and the monk credited with creating Japan’s syllabary, took charge of the temple in the eighth century and set about creating a 3-D mandala to help people visualise his ideas. Even though much of Toji has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, the 21 statues of the mandala have survived and are on display in the Kodo building. On the 21st of each month the temple hosts a flea market, nicknamed Kobo-san after the visionary monk.