Iwamoto-ji Temple in the town of Shimanto is no ordinary temple, but a marvel filled with many types of art
You may have already seen photos of their gorgeous ceiling, covered with 575 pieces of artwork from artists all across Japan. There are so many different kinds subjects: Buddhist images, modern colorful still lives... you might even spot Marilyn Monroe smiling from up there!
You can also find bright pop illustrations all over the temple grounds, artwork created by popular artist SHETA who is famous for collaborating with Coach or designing Star Wars goods. It is surprising to see such bright colors and pop art at a temple, but every piece is related to Iwamoto-ji and the contrast of old and new is part of what gives this temple its uniqueness
Be sure to stop by the cute cafe space in the temple, where you can enjoy their homemade vegan curry with an extraordinary view of the grounds. They use a lot of fresh local vegetables in the curry. You will feel warm after eating this because they put a lot of ginger in it
Visit Iwamoto-ji Temple and experience this one-of-a-kind artistic retreat
! SHiMANTO website:
https://at40010.jp/en/
Are you interested in the art of nature? Check out the Sky Hill Glamping in Shimanto City:
https://visitkochijapan.com/en/activities/10475