Chokokuji Temple was founded in 807 by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) on the picturesque island of Sado in Niigata prefecture. Chokokuji features a unique design imitating the famous Hasedera Temple in Yamato prefecture. It goes to the extent to even use Hasedera Temple Kanji : 長谷寺. [...]
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Stretching over 350m high in Sado’s beautiful mountains, Iwakubi Shoryu Tanada (rice terraces) has been passed down from generations to generations of farmers since around the Edo Period with over 460 paddies still used today. [...]
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One of Sado Island’s attractions, besides its many beautiful temples and it’s gorgeous landscape, is the many Noh (Japanese traditional play) that are actually performed by local villagers in some of the many temples of the Island. Here unlike many other places in Japan […]
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It was under Emperor Kanmu's ordinance, in 808 that Seisuiji Temple was founded by a Buddhist monk who came from Kyoto while traveling Japan on a missionary tour. Meaning “Salvation” in Japanese, Seisuiji Temple’s main hall is highly influenced by Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizu-dera [...]
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Located in Wakayama near the border of Nara and Mie, the Dorokyo Gorge are amazing rock formations from the Kitayama-gawa (river). Famous for its steep cliffs and clear emerald waters, the Dorokyo Gorge is unfortunately only accessible by boats. Beautiful all year long it is in autumn with […]
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Famous for its onsen, its beautiful mountain an as a world-class ski resort, Mt. Zao is also extremely popular among foreign tourist for its magnificent Snow Monsters also called Juhyo in Japanese. [...]
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Located in the heart of Wakayama near Kumano Hongu Taisha, the onsen village of Yunomine is not only famous for its amazing onsen water but also for its unique bath: Tsubo-Yu. Tsubo-Yu is one of Japan’s oldest baths and also the smallest!
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Fukusada No Oicho or in English: The Great Ginkgo tree of Fukusada, is a beautiful 400-year-old lonesome tree located in the Tanabe district of Wakayama. With a circumference of about 5.5m and a height of 22m, Fukusada No Oicho is also the “protector” of the Hosenji temple [...]
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For the third and last video of our Okunoin Cemetery series, we wanted to help you discover what Okunoin looks and sounds like at night when most of the tourists are long gone and enjoying a good onsen or dinner in one of the many temples around. [...]
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Danjo Garan is another important place of worship in Koyasan. It is where Kobo Daishi is also worshipped. The legend has it that Kobo Daishi himself when studying in China through his Sankosho (a pestle with three prongs at each end, usually made of gilt bronze) toward Japan […]
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Located about 1h away by plane from Tokyo, Hachijojima is one of the many beautiful tropical island of Tokyo, where swimming with sea turtles and hiking in a tropical forest, is just some of the many activities that Hachijojima has to offer! [...]
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On this second part of our video series on Okunoin Cemetery (Koyasan - Wakayama), we wanted to spend some time on some of the old, yet most beautiful tombs and mausoleums of Okunoin Cemetery. It is very difficult for us to describe the unique ambiance and beauty of some of Okunoin’s [...]
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