A boardinghouse at a World Heritage-listed Buddhist temple in the ancient capital of Nara has been serving as a place for the families of seriously ill and disabled people to take a much-needed break.
In early June, 26-year-old Misato Komiyama of Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, and her parents stayed in the boardinghouse on the premises of Todaiji, the temple complex known for hosting the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha.
It was the first family trip in around five years for Komiyama, a quadriplegic who sometime requires a ventilator.