Tarobogu is a picturesque shrine located about halfway up the 350m high Mt. Akagamiyama in Shiga prefecture. Tarobogu is known by the nickname "Tarobo-san" in Japanese. Said to have been founded around 1,400 years ago, it is connected to warding off disaster and bringing good luck and success in business. [...]
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Known now as Ama or “sea-women”, these ladies have been recognized for their importance in the development of Japan after the Mikimoto Kokichi discovery and unique production of cultured pearls in 1983. [...]
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Donkaiin temple is part of Kongosho-ji which is located on top of Mount Asama, Mie’s highest mountain. Built-in 825 by Kobo Daishi (774~835) who was a Buddhist saint and founder of the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism. [...]
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Having been around since the beginning of the Kamakura period (1192 - 1333) Saimyoji represents beautiful examples of architecture from that time featuring a nail-free structure. Saimyoji is also Japan’s first National Treasure! The temple includes a stunning approach of over 1,000 maple trees and a gorgeous three-tiered pagoda. [...]
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Located near Meoto Iwa in Ise Shima (Mie), Hinjitsukan is a former guesthouse built-in 1887. Originally constructed to host the most important guests of the time such as members of the Imperial family. Primarily made of wood, Hinjitsukan was built in a record time of just three months. [...]
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Located in the city of Ise, Mie prefecture Ise Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Amaterasu-Omikami goddess. Spread across a vast part of Ise, the Grand Shrine is mainly composed of two major complexes known as Naiku and Geku. [...]
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Located off the shores of Futami city in Mie 10km away from the Ise Grand Shrine, Meoto Iwa (also known as the Married Couple Rocks), are a couple of small rocks sitting peacefully. According to the Shinto Futami Okitama Jinja, the rocks represent the union of the creators of Izanagi-no-Okami [...]
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Amidaji was founded over 1,200 years ago as a guardian temple of childbirth by Empress Komoyo, consort to Shomu Tennon. Amidaji enshrines a statue of Amida Nyorai Buddha as a gesture of gratitude for a safe birth believed to have been brought about through the glory of Amida Nyorai Buddha. [...]
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Located on the top of Mt Kurama north of Kyoto you will find the famous Kurama-dera temple. The story goes that around the year 772, a Chinese Monk named Jianzhen saw in one of his dreams that Mt Kurama had strong spiritual powers. [...]
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Founded at the beginning of the Heian period right after the capital was moved in Kyoto, To-ji (Toji) temple or the East temple in English was built. Together with its now-defunct sister temple Saiji or West temple To-ji was among Kyoto's largest temples and served the capital's guardian temples. [...]
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Heian shrine is located in Kyoto where Heian is actually Kyoto's former name. Sort of a "newcomer" in Kyoto, it was built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the capital's foundation and dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Kammu and Komei. [...]
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Nanzen-Ji temple is the main temple located near Tenju-An (Kyoto). It is the head temple of a school within the Rinzai sect. Destroyed during the civil wars of the late Muromachi Period, the history of Nanzen-ji temple dates back to the middle of the 13th century when the Emperor Kameyama [...]
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