Gohyaku rakan

This is an interesting place here in Toyama called Gohyaku rakan (500 rakan, or disciples of Buddha). The 500 rakan statues are situated on a hillside overlooking a temple. We had a hard time finding it because it is pretty hidden in the hills with just a dark stairway leading to the site. Every one of the 500 rakan has a slightly different expression although many are weathered and most of the detail is lost. I was going to do a portrait series of all of them, but ended up getting attacked by mosquitos every time I paused to take a photo. This place definitely had an eerie vibe to it, not scary, but very silent and dark, with the feeling that all 500 rakan were watching me as I walked around.