Ruriden's columbarium ushers in the afterlife with crystal Buddhas and LED lights in Japan

The inventive Ruriden columbarium, operated by the Koukokuji Buddhist temple, houses 2,046 futuristic altars with crystal Buddha statues illuminated by LEDs that correspond to drawers storing the ashes of the deceased.

With a population that is expected to shrink by nearly 30 million people over the next 50 years, the market for funerals, graves and anything related to the afterlife is still very much alive.

Ruriden columbarium

Koukokuji temple head priest Yajima Taijun demonstrates a prayer ritual inside the Ruriden columbarium surrounded by multi-colored altars in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

The Ruriden took two years to build. The deceased's ashes are stored for 33 years before being buried below the Ruriden.

Crystal Buddha

A crystal Buddha statue altar is seen lit up inside the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

Currently, 600 altars are in use and another 300 are reserved.

Crystal Buddhas

Crystal Buddhas in blue light at the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, October 27, 204.

Each Buddha fronts a drawer storing the deceased's ashes.

Koukoko-ji temple

A woman prays at the Ruriden in downtown Tokyo, October 27, 2014.

Funeral arrangements are normally left to those left behind, but the latest trend in Japan, which literally translates to "end of life" preparations, is for the aging to prepare their own funerals and graves before they set off on their journey to the great beyond.

Crystal Buddhas

A selected crystal Buddha altar is lit up at the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

A visitor can use an IC card (with an embedded chip) to enter the building and turn on a light indicating the specific Buddha altar for the ashes of the deceased at the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

Ruriden columbarium

Crystal Buddha statues are lit up inside the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

LED afterlife

Flowers rest in front of LED-lit Buddha statue altars inside the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

Ruriden columbarium

Crystal Buddha statue altars are lit up in a pink hue at the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

Led-lit Buddhas

A wide view shows the crystal Buddha statue altars at the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

Crystal Buddhas

Buddha statue altars using high-powered LED lights are on display at the Ruriden columbarium in Tokyo, April 6, 2015.

Ruriden

The outside of the Ruriden columbarium in downtown Tokyo, November 4, 2014.