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...
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...
Daigo-ji
Hideyoshi's Cherry Blossom Temple on the Mountainside
A sprawling World Heritage Site famous for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's legendary 1598 cherry blossom vie...
Tochoji
Hakata Temple with a Large Wooden Buddha
A Shingon temple in Hakata that houses the Fukuoka Daibutsu, a large seated wooden Buddha, along ...
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...
Engyo-ji Temple
Ancient Mountain Temple from The Last Samurai
A sprawling 1000-year-old temple complex atop Mount Shosha, famous as a filming location for 'The...
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is a major Buddhist temple founded in 940 AD that draws over 10 millio...
Tsubosakadera
Temple of Large Stone Buddhas Linked to Eye Ailments
A Shingon temple in Takatori, the sixth stop of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, known for a Kannon...
Seiryo-ji
The Living Buddha of Saga and Its Hidden Treasures
Houses the 'Living Buddha' statue brought from China in 987, a wooden Shaka Nyorai said to replic...
Hokoku-ji
Kamakura's Bamboo Temple
The 'Bamboo Temple.' 2,000+ moso bamboo stalks behind the main hall. Small tea house inside the g...
Tofuku-ji
Kyoto's Supreme Autumn Foliage Temple
One of Kyoto's Five Great Zen Temples. Best autumn foliage in the city. The view from Tsutenkyo B...
Hase-dera
Hase-dera Temple
A hillside temple in Kamakura celebrated for its towering gilded Kannon statue, lush hydrangea ga...
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...
Zuiryuji Temple
National Treasure Zen Temple in Takaoka
A Soto Zen temple in Takaoka built for the Maeda clan, whose main gate, Buddha hall, and Dharma h...
Miidera Temple
Perched on the slopes of Mount Hiei overlooking the blue waters of Lake Biwa, Miidera Temple has ...