Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima island in Hiroshima Prefecture is one of the best known shrines in all of Japan, and a UNESCO world heritage site. The shrine is built in a small cove on Miyajima, and stands almost entirely over the water. The iconic torii gate located in the water in front of the shrine …
Tamaudun is a royal mausoleum in Okinawa. It is one of three royal Mausoleums, and was constructed for the royal family of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1501. Hotels in Okinawa Car Rental Okinawa Tamaudun, which is located quite near Shuri Castle in modern day Naha, is one of three royal mausoleums in Okinawa. The mausoleums were …
Fudo-in is a Buddhist temple located in Hiroshima, on the eastern side of mount Futabayama. The temple largely survived the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and is the only temple in Hiroshima City, which is designated as a national treasure. As you walk around the quiet and peaceful temple grounds at Fudo-in, you can really …
Oura Church (大浦天主堂), also known as the “Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan” is a Catholic church located near Glover Garden in Nagasaki. The church was first constructed by two french priests, who dedicated it to the 26 Martyrs who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. Very near the famous Glover Garden, and …
Sofuku-ji is an Ōbaku zen temple located in Nagasaki City in Nagasaki Prefecture. The temple was constructed in 1629 to serve Chinese people living in Nagasaki. It later became Japanese, so the architecture is an interesting mix of Chinese and Japanese styles. The complex has numerous important cultural assets, among them two national treasures; the …
Nanzen-ji is one of the most important Zen temples in Japan. It is the head temple of the Nanzen-ji Rinzai sect and is known especially for it’s beautiful stone garden. The temple grounds host several other temples and a huge Meiji-era aqueduct. The area is accessible free of charge, but there are fees to enter …
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the main shrine for Inari, one of the most prominent gods (kami) of the Japanse Shinto religion. The shrine is especially known for it’s thousands of red/orange torii gates lining the paths up the mountain behind the shrine. On the edge of Kyoto, with its back against mount Inari is Fushimi …
The Great Buddha Statue (Daibutsu in Japanese) is a 13m high bronze statue, which belongs to the Buddhist Kōtoku-in temple in Kamakura – just 1 hours by train from Tokyo. It is one of the most famous Buddha statues in Japan and dates back to 1252. The current Daibutsu statue in Bronze is said to …
