Koyasan Buddhist Temple is a small temple hidden within Little Tokyo. Our party came here on the New Year Day (January 1st) and there was a long line for hatsumode (aka "first visit" - first visit of the year to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine taking place on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day of the New Year). This temple was founded in 1912 and moved to the current location in 1940. This is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the United States. [Parking]: No designated parking for the temple, but Aiso Parking Garage (101 Judge John Aiso St) is located just one block away. [Waiting line]: The long waiting line is for visitors who want to pray inside of the temple. For anyone who want to buy souvenirs, then they can just walk directly into the front courtyard of the temple as there are separate lines to buy souvenirs. [Hatsumode]: Upon entering the temple, visitor can pay $5 donation for Goma-ki (write your wish and your name on the piece of wood and leave it on the table - it will supposedly be burned during a monthly ceremony Goma Fire Ritual at the last Sunday of each month outside of January). Once each person is done praying, then there's a wooden offering box for donation. No pictures are allowed inside of the temple. [Activities]: Other than hatsumode, the temple had Shusho-e (New Years Day) Service [with Mochi Presentation] on January 1st at 10 AM, New Year's Day Goma Service on January 1st at 2 PM, and Taiko Gohei Blessing Service / Goma Service throughout Jan 1st through Jan 3rd. [Classes]: Outside of hatsumode, the temple offers yoga class, Japanese calligraphy class, dharma class, tea with reverend, etc. throughout the year. [Souvenirs]: They sell omamori (Japanese amulets) , ofuda (talismans), ojuzu (Buddhist prayer beads), incense, arrows, etc. Heck they even sell Hello Kitty and Ultraman omamori. [Admission]: Free admission, but consider paying your respects with a donation in the large wooden offering box. [Conclusion]: This is one of few activities to do on the New Year Day and expect a huge crowd visiting for hatsumode. Our party stayed for approximately 45 minutes (including waiting time) and I definitely appreciate the tradition. Certainly worth a visit for anyone who is free on the New Year Day & would like to experience this annual Japanese cultural event. read more

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I have attended services at this Buddhist temple in Los Angeles. It the most popular Japanese temple in the city. The New Years service gets thousands of visitors. New Years service at Koyasan temple is gathering place for Little Tokyo. read more

I went to "hatsumode" here for the first time. Hatsumode is first visit to the temple after the new year. You can go on January 1st to 3rd. I'm not sure what services they have for the rest of the year but I would love to find out! I was very impressed with the temple and the service, I felt like I was in Japan! I heard this temple is over a 100 years old! Try to get there early to avoid long lines! They also sell omikuji and lucky charms! read more

Ko-yasan Buddhist Temple is a hidden jewel down a long driveway between Bunkado- & Ginza gift shops. There is a discrete tall granite marker carved in Japanese ideographs to mark the entrance but driving by you will not notice it. The grounds by necessity are compact. There is a tastefully done statue of a Bodhisattva in Indo-Greek robes who are able to attain Nirvana but delays doing so in order to help others who are suffering. Jizo- statues protect women & children. Statue of a noted Buddhist priest, Shu-go Daishi. Plantings, stone markers & lanterns. Interior is like a multipurpose room and looks as though it could serve as a basketball court with its hard wood gymnasium floor. However, at the head of the room on a raised platform is the formal Butsudan where the center piece is a painting or statue of the Buddha surrounded by golden, ornate hanging lamps, decorations in gold leaf, incense burners for a sumptuous effect to reflect the golden radiance of reaching Nirvana where our worldly suffering comes to a permanent end. The Buddha never proclaimed himself to be a God. Only that he found a way to reach enlightenment in order to escape from the human curse of greed and to attain compassion & peace thus to Nirvana. Shingon ultimately derives from Classical Indian Sanskit meaning "true word" since after all Shakyamuni Buddha was a northern Indian prince. Shingon is known for its Esoteric Buddhism which was brought to China from India sometime during the Tang dynasty. A major proponent of Esoteric Buddhism in China was Amoghavajra, and one of his students was Huiguo, who sensing that Esoteric Buddhism would die out in India & China, passed on the knowledge when Ku-kai/Ko-bo- Daishi came from Japan just before Huiguo passed away. Ku-kai was at that time trying to formulate his own understanding of Buddhist doctrine and felt Huiguo's knowledge would help him on that quest. Kukai returned to Japan to establish the Shingon school of Esoteric Buddhism on Ko-yasan/Ko-ya Mountain which is still the headquarters for Shingon. By the way, Huiguo's prediction proved true. 35 years after his death, Daoist Emperor Wuzong of Tang destroyed all the Buddhist temples & schools. Chinese Buddhism never could fully recover to attain the prominence it had during the Tang dynasty again. I went one New Year's Day for Hatsumo-de/first of the year visit to a Shinto- shrine or Buddhist temple to see the Goma Fire Protection Purification Ritual where the head priest chants & feeds fragrant cedar sticks into a rising flame. Also bought good luck amulets for the new year such as an arrow w/ an attached wooden plaque that has a painting depicting the animal year. 2018 being the year of the dog. Stop by before 4pm to visit, but don't make this the only reason to come to Little Tokyo. Look up Little Tokyo on Yelp since it will give you a good idea what to see & do since there may be a chance Ko-yasan may be closed to the public. https://yelp.to/qTKq/lZPVjwy66N Or call ahead to confirm. If interested in the nature of Esoteric Buddhism: https://en.m.wikipedia.orgwikiShingon_Buddhism read more

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For your Hatsumode (A first Shinto shrine visit of the Japanese New Year.), this temple should be a perfect place for you. It is located in Little Tokyo and this temple is literally hidden in a secluded area (Please see one of my picture which should help you to find an entrance area which is on 1st Street between the buildings.). Other than making your new year wishes, you can also purchase Omamori (charms or amulets), Omikuji (A written oracle.), and hamaya (A decorative arrow sold at shrines at New Year's to ward off misfortune and to attract good luck.). To experience a bit of Japanese style New Year, this temple is it! You do not have to be a believer of Buddhism to enjoy as this temple welcomes everyone so hope you will consider a visit during any of your future New Year Season. read more

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This Buddhist temple is hidden down a little alleyway off 1st Street in DTLA. The interior is rather modest consisting of a large cavernous room with wooden floors and not much more, EXCEPT the "alter" area is quite elaborate. I had the pleasure of attending their monthly goma fire ritual which is on the last Sunday of every month, where a fire is set on the alter to burn wooden sticks in front of the Buddha. The fire symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the wood sticks symbolize human desires (the root of suffering). In this ritual, the Buddha burns away the root of our suffering as we pray for our wishes to come true. For a more detailed explanation, see the picture below explaining the meaning in detail (posted also outside the temple). Upon entering the temple, you are allowed to purchase one of the sticks for $5. You then write your name on one side, and your wish on the other side and leave it on the table. The sticks are then burned during the service, which consists of drumming and chanting. It's really quite special and unique. Pictures are not allowed inside the temple, so you need to be respectful even though it is so tempting to take a picture of the beautiful ritual unfolding before you. read more

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Koyasan Buddhist Temple hidden in Little Tokyo is one of the many jewels you will find is this area. Regardless if you believe in Buddhism or not, the people of this place welcomes all. My wife and I came here to receive a cleansing for her. I won't give you the details but I must say they know what thy are doing. They have great respect and attitude for all. The atmosphere and the feeling you get from the people there...try it for yourself...feel the experience of it. read more

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Came to visit this place from San Diego on Sunday afternoon . One of my friend suggested this place n told its a very peaceful and beautiful place .i review -may be but I didn't get to enter the place . It might be my bad luck but ruined my experience . This place gets closed at 4 pm , we reached around 3:30pm , rang the bell ,a sweet lady opened the door n told due to private session practice , place is closed . And we returned . I will definitely come back to see what's the hype all about but will definitely call them before coming and will avoid Sundays They shd inform public that they r closed and put sign of close on outside door , so that u don't have to pay for parking unnecessarily. Posting the pics of front yard only read more

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My husband and I use this temple for services every Sunday at 10AM. The service books are printed in English, Japanese (both Romanji and standard Kanji), and Sanskrit. Service is approximately 45 minutes long with religious and cultural classes afterward. Right now they're using the main hall after service for taiko drum lessons. They also offer newsletters near the front with monthly schedules for the different holidays, events, and classes so you won't miss a thing. This is a wonderful and intimate temple where everyone is welcomed! read more

This Esoteric Buddhist temple, which is tucked in an alley off 1st Street, is pretty special. It celebrated its 100th birthday last week, coming a long way since starting up in a room in the Miyako Hotel in 1912. Any time I've tried to visit before, it's usually been gated off (they're apparently open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily, except for Thursdays and private events), but we were fortunate to wander in yesterday during their Goma Fire Ritual. For a $5 donation you can write your wish on a piece of paper and it is systematically burned in this Shingon Buddhist ceremony they hold on the last Sunday of the month. The inside of the temple is more on the minimalist side; however, the altar is filled with golden pieces and statues and images of deities like Fudo-myoo, Yakushi-nyorai, and Kobo Daishi and Bodhisattvas like Kannon and Jizo. The temple sells various talismans and rosaries, as well as two kinds of lucky arrows (hamaya). read more

When I was visiting Little Tokyo I ended the day with a visit to this temple. They have visiting hours until 4 pm and when you ring the doorbell you are greeted and welcomed in their main area of worship. When you first walk in it looks like an old elementary school gymnasium with hardwood floors and a dimly lit atmosphere, but as soon as you fully enter and face the front you become floored with the beautiful spectacle. It looks like you are facing El Dorado as you stand in front of a landscape of gold and ornaments for the Buddha. The greeter then gives you an incent that you respectfully set into a bowl to show respect. He then gives you literature and briefly described the room's importance, the religion, and the Buddha. I am not Buddhist but it was eye opening to see how they worship and you feel nothing but respect and serenity in their temple. This is definitely a place to check out to gain more understanding of another culture. read more

I stumbled upon this temple when I was walking my dog in the Little Tokyo. I must have walked past it a million times and never saw it. Sometimes the universe can work in mysterious ways and that is exactly how I felt about this place when I discovered it. Everyone there is so kind and humble and there is a peacefulness just walking up to the building. Whether you are exploring Buddhism or want to take some time out to find peace in the city of Los Angeles, I would highly recommend taking time to visit this special place. I might just get married here some day. read more

I started attending services at the Koyasan Budhist Temple a couple of years ago. At first I would make it a once-in-a-while thing but after a few months I couldn't wait till it was Sunday to attend services there on a weekly basis. Sensei Seicho Asahi is very friendly and welcoming as are the other lay members of the Sangha. I always enjoy Sensei Asahi's stories he tells at the end of service that tie into the Buddha's teachings. read more

The reason I visited this temple today I went here to pray for the family of health. In the building is very widely, and has been very clean cleaned. I purchased a charm today. The price is $ 5. And I purchased the charm of the pet. Because inside the building photography is prohibited, I think sorry that does not show a picture of the medium to you. read more

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Visited this beautiful temple and I was amazed by its serenity and sacred feel. It is really an authentic Koyasan temple just like the one you would see in Japan. Unfortunately, there was a stupid American foreigner, Gaijin who took pictures inside the temple when there are big signs that photography is prohibited. Why people can't be respectful, I will never know. Stupid white visitors. read more

Koyasan is one of the oldest Buddhist sect in Japan. Shingon Buddhism is closest to Buddhism practiced in Tibet. This temple is a bit of a hidden treasure in Little Tokyo as the entrance is surrounded by other bldgs on first street. The priest are young and very helpful and will welcome visitors to the temple. I was a member of the Boyscout troop 379 in the 70's. The Japanese American boyscout troop is known for their scouting history and drum and bugle corps. I always feel a quiet piece just to sit in the great hall. If in Little Tokyo it is worth visiting. read more

lol, I'm not a religious person, but I am a Japan freak. I have been going to Little Tokyo for years now, but I never even noticed this place. But now that I have a family and we want to go do Hatsumode (first visit to a Shrine or Temple in the new year), I found this place online. Gorgeous. Very much like something you'd find in Japan. And they were really nice and seemed to look the other way when we took pics of our baby doing hatsumode, even though it is supposed to be no photos. Anyway, will be back next year! read more

Came here for Shichigosan this year. The registration fee was $35 and they did the prayer service for about 30mins. There weren't enough seats though. Each child was blessed and were given a omamori and candy. What a beautiful temple! read more

Koyasan is a wonderful place with wonderful people. I will always be grateful to Kako-sensei for helping me visit Koyasan in Japan. Hayashi-sensei's meditation class is the best and the new English dharma class is excellent. read more

The Teacher Reverend Hiashi , is very friendly and everyone is very , very friendly. I want to visit there. Rev, HIashi is helping me get in touch with another Buddhist Teacher, Ajari Tanaka, who live in Japan. read more

This is my cousin's temple but it is really something beautiful and a gem of Little Tokyo. My daughter was three so we decided to partake in 7-5-3 (Shichi Go San) to celebrate good health and prosperity for her. I was impressed with the English/Japanese service so I didn't have to sit there and translate what I could understand to my husband. The temple itself is beautiful and I thank everyone who made us feel welcome. read more