Hoonji Temple Five Hundred Rakan

Hoonji was founded in 1394 and contains the Rakan Hall, a dimly lit chamber where 499 wooden arhat statues sit in rows, carved between 1731 and 1735, each with a distinct facial expression said to include likenesses of Marco Polo and Genghis Khan. The atmospheric cedar-shaded grounds are a favorite walking spot for Morioka residents, but the rakan hall itself sees almost no tourists. The temple bell is one of Tohoku's most celebrated.