stablished in 768 and rebuilt several times over the centuries, Kasuga-taisha is the shrine of the Fujiwara Family and famous for its many bronze and stone lanterns. Alongside the Kasugayama Primeval Forest near it, the Kasuga-taisha is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”. The shrine […]
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art of Todai-Ji, Migatsu-dō also known as Nigatsudo Hall, stands for “Second Month Hall” where in fact the Shuni-e ceremony is held during the second month of the lunar calendar. The hall is considered to be one of the most important additional structures of Todai-Ji. Founded by a monk by the name of Sanetada in […]
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eing one of Japan and Nara’s most famous landmarks and temples, Todai-ji attracts thousands of worshipers and tourists each year. It was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan. Todai-ji (also known as Todaiji) Daibutusden (Big Buddha Hall) not only features one of Japan’s largest bronzes statues of […]
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ara Park, or Nara Koen in Japanese, is a large park in the heart of Nara. Established in 1880, the Nara Park features many of Nara’s most important points of interest like the amazing Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, the Nara National Museum and…its many deer! Considered in the Shinto religion to be the messengers of the […]
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anjo Garan is another important place of worship in Koyasan and where Kobo Daishi is also worshipped. The legend has it that Kobo Daishi himself, when studying in China, threw his Sankosho (a pestle with three prongs at each end, usually made of gilt bronze) toward Japan and landed in a pine tree. It was […]
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oya-san or Koyasan is a mountain located in Wakayam prefecture and in the center of the Shingo Buddhist sect introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi (see Ōsu Kannon – Nagoya), one of Japan’s most important religious figures. It was then natural that such an important and well-respected figure would have to rest in […]
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rected on top of Gujō Hachiman’s nearest hill, the Gujō Hachiman Castle was built in 1559 by a local feudal lord. Destroyed during the Meiji Period, the castle was only rebuilt in 1933. Unfortunately it was not rebuilt as the original, but the Gujō Hachiman Castle comes with a wooden foundation rather that the usual […]
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ocated in central Gifu, Gujō Hachiman seems to be one of those small towns where time passes by ten times slower than usual. At the confluence of the upper Nagara-gawa (river) and the Yoshida-gawa (river), this town, founded in the 16th century following the construction of the Hachiman Castle, is known for two main things. […]
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ocated in the center of Nagoya, and nearby Osu Kannon temple, the Osu shopping district is a vast network of nice shopping arcades. These arcades spread across Osu Kannon street, Mioumon street, Osu Hon-dori, Mozen-cho street, Banshoji street, Higashi Nioumon street, Akamon street and Shintenchi Street. First opened 400 years ago, the Osu shopping district […]
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he Osu Kannon (Ōsu Kannon) temple is a popular temple of the Shingo sect (one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan) located in Osu in central Nagoya. Originally built in 1333 in Osu-go, Nagoka Village in the Owari province, known today as the city of Hashima in Gifu prefecture, it was only in […]
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ocated in the center of Tokyo in the Roppongi district, Tokyo Midtown is a huge complex opened in 2007 that includes offices and headquarters of major companies, such as Fujifilm and Konami. There are also shops, restaurants, museums, the Ritz Carlton Hotel as well as a gorgeous garden that is very popular at the weekend. […]
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hat used to be one of the most amazing matsuri in Tokyo, has now become one of the saddest. Mitama Matsuri, first held in 1947, takes place annually at Yasukuni Shrine, and features around 30,000 lanterns. The purpose of this festival is to pray for the fallen soldiers of the past and for a more […]
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