That creepy stone Monk carving was found at the Seiganji Temple (清厳寺) in Utsunomiya city, Tochigi Prefecture. Stone carvings like that (though not always creepy) can be found at Buddhist temples and they are relatively new. I assume that they are sort of eye-catching mascots with vague significance both in history and religion...
This is a Sepia Scenes #123 and Alphabe-Thursday entry (V is for vague).
