[1][2] In 1909, the Reverend Shutai Aoyama, native and former chief priest of Kakuganji Temple in Toyama- ken, left Japan for the United States with the blessings of Archbishop Misumon Yuhan and his other superiors, “to observe the religious situation in North America, as well as propagate Shingon Buddhism.

In 1940, the Temple moved to its current location on East 1st Street, but the bombing of Pearl Harbor would forever changed the Japanese American community across the nation.

Within a year, the temple in Los Angeles was closed, its hall and basement piled to the ceiling with members’ possessions, and its membership, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, were relocated to internment camps during World War II.

Two years later, the temple was designated the keeper of the Hiroshima Peace Flame, brought over from Japan by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

In 2012, the temple celebrated its centennial anniversary, hosting a special goma fire ritual service presided over by Bishop Ekan Ikeguchi from Kagoshima.

The main hall has a seating capacity of 600 people, and a grand scale altar where the traditional esoteric rituals are performed.

There are several other esoteric deities enshrined in the main hall of the temple (Fudo Myoo, Yakushi Nyorai, Jizo, Kannon, and Kobo Daishi).

The second floor of the annex is a shrine to Kobo Daishi, designed for the purpose of religious gatherings and study classes especially for small groups, and accommodates a seating capacity of 100 people.

The fourth and fifth bishop, Reverends Seytsu Takahashi and Ryosho Sogabe, are credited with creating what we now see as the Koyasan Buddhist Temple.