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

The 'Bamboo Temple.' 2,000+ moso bamboo stalks behind the main hall. Small tea house inside the g...

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

Hillside temple in Sagano, best in autumn. The pagoda surrounded by red and orange maples is the ...

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 1202 by Eisai, who brought Zen and tea to Japan. Twin Dragons ...

Kinkaku-ji

Golden Pavilion Temple

Kyoto's golden icon, where a pavilion sheathed in real gold leaf floats above its mirror-still po...

Kofuku-ji

Nara's Five-Story Pagoda and National Treasure Hall

World Heritage temple with Japan's second-tallest wooden pagoda (50m). The National Treasure Hall...

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

'Hydrangea Temple.' 2,500 blue bushes bloom in June—the deep blue is called 'Meigetsuin Blue.' Th...

Miidera Temple

Perched on the slopes of Mount Hiei overlooking the sapphire waters of Lake Biwa, 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

Highest-ranked Rinzai Zen temple in Kyoto. The 22-meter sanmon gate has city views from the top. ...

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...