Discover Japan's Hidden Gems

Gio-ji

A Tiny Moss-Carpeted Temple Steeped in Tragic Romance

A small thatched-roof temple blanketed in luminous green moss, linked to a tragic love story from...

Hase-dera

Hase-dera Temple

A hillside temple in Kamakura celebrated for its towering gilded Kannon statue, lush hydrangea ga...

Hiraizumi

UNESCO World Heritage Pure Land Buddhist Architecture with the Golden Hall

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hiraizumi was the political and cultural center of northern Japan i...

Hokoku-ji

Kamakura's Enchanting Bamboo Temple

Known as the Bamboo Temple for its stunning grove of over 2,000 moso bamboo stalks behind the mai...

Horyu-ji

Horyu-ji Temple

A UNESCO World Heritage site containing the world's oldest surviving wooden structures, dating ba...

Ishite-ji

Shikoku's Most Visited Pilgrimage Temple

Temple #51 of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage and the most visited temple on the entire route, l...

Jojakko-ji

A Hillside Temple Famous for Its Fiery Autumn Foliage

A peaceful hillside temple in Sagano renowned for its spectacular autumn colors. The multi-story ...

Kencho-ji

Japan's First Zen Training Monastery

The first Zen training monastery in Japan, founded in 1253, and ranked first among Kamakura's Fiv...

Kennin-ji

Kyoto's Oldest Zen Temple in the Heart of Gion

Kyoto's oldest Zen temple, founded in 1202 by Eisai who introduced Zen and tea to Japan, home to ...

Kinkaku-ji

Golden Pavilion Temple

Zen temple famous for its gold leaf-covered pavilion reflected in a serene mirror pond in norther...

Kofuku-ji

Nara's Iconic Five-Story Pagoda and National Treasure Hall

A World Heritage temple and one of Nara's most prominent landmarks, home to an iconic five-story ...

Koyasan Okunoin

The most sacred site on Mount Koya, featuring Japan's largest cemetery along a mystical forest pa...

Kurama-dera

A Mountain Temple of Mystical Energy and Ancient Forests

A powerful mountain temple said to be where Yoshitsune trained as a child. The forested trail con...

Meigetsuin

The Hydrangea Temple of Kamakura

Known as the Hydrangea Temple, famous for its 2,500 blue hydrangea bushes that bloom spectacularl...

Miidera Temple

Motsuji Temple

Motsuji Temple - UNESCO Pure Land Garden in Hiraizumi

A UNESCO World Heritage temple in Hiraizumi featuring one of Japan's finest Pure Land gardens fro...

Muroji

Women's Koya and Japan's Smallest Outdoor Pagoda

Known as Women's Koya for welcoming female worshippers when Mount Koya banned them, this mountain...

Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)

A Temple of Hidden Traps and Secret Passages

A fascinating temple built with hidden staircases, trap doors, and secret passages as defensive m...

Nanzen-ji

Nanzen-ji Temple

A major Zen temple at the head of the Rinzai school, renowned for its imposing sanmon gate and th...

Nanzoin Temple

Home of the World's Largest Bronze Reclining Buddha

Shingon Buddhist temple housing the world's largest bronze reclining Buddha statue at 41 meters l...