Beside Route 36 through Imabari, you may notice a sign pointing to the Graveyard of the Feudal Lord. From the road, crooked stone steps lead up a hill to a slightly creepy plateau with rows of stone lanterns and three enclosures housing large stupas that look like shuttlecocks. These are the graves of the first, third and fourth feudal lords of Imabari from the Edo period.
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Graveyard of the Lords of Imabari
Three big stone shuttlecocks on a hilltop

By Anonymous
Community writer

One of the stupas marking the graves of three feudal lords of Imabari

Look for this sign on Route 36. You can park in the area next to the coffee shop

The same thing as on the road sign. But this is written in stone...

Very uneven, mossy steps lead up the little hill. Care is required, especially on the way down

There are three graves, each with its own compound and stupa. The first lord was called Hisamatsu Sadafusa

The three stupas are all very similar looking. They look a bit like shuttlecocks, although I'm sure the feudal lords would frown at the suggestion

Behind the compounds are various metal sheds with Buddhist statuary concealed behind curtains

It's a lonely spot, and the combination of the stone structures and bamboo creates a strange atmosphere

There's something a little oppressive about the serried rows of lanterns, standing like sentinels
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