Yakushiji is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan.
It is part of the Hosso sect, founded by Xuanzang (JPN: Genjo) in China around 630, and established in Japan by the middle of the 7th century.
It features a rare 7th-century pagoda as well as ancient statues of the Healing Buddha and [...]

Horyuji’s full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺), or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, is an important Buddhist Temple and one of the oldest in Japan. The temple is also widely acknowledged to have one of the oldest wooden buildings existing in the world, and is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan.
It contains [...]

The Kasuga Shrine, and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest near the shrine, are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”.
The shrine was built by the Fujiwara family in 768 at the time of Heijo-kyo and is one of the best and most important in Japan.
In accordance with [...]

Kōfuku-ji Temple along with several Buddhist temples in Nara, received the distinction of being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name: “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.”
It is one of the great temples of the Nara period, the complex features two pagodas, located on either side of the southern entrance and many Buddhist art [...]

Todaiji is one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. The Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden) is the largest wooden building in the world and houses the world’s largest bronze statue Buddha Vairocana.
The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, together with [...]

Saiho-ji Temple is also known as “Koke-dera Temple,” which means “Moss Temple”. Over 120 types of moss are present in the garden, resembling a beautiful green carpet with many subtle shades.
It is one of Kyoto’s Unesco World Heritage Sites and entrance to this temple requires a reservation made well in advance by mail!
The garden, designated [...]

Fushimi Inari Taisha is without doubt the largest and most impressive Inari shrine in Japan.
It is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, sake, and prosperity. Foxes are thought to be his messengers therefore, many fox statues can be found at Inari shrines.
The shrine is famous for the countless torii gates, offerings by worshippers, that [...]

The temple’s official name is Rengeo-in. Sanjusangendo is the popular name, meaning “Hall with 33 spaces” because “33″  is the number of spaces between the pillars that support the long, narrow hall.
The hall with 120m (394 feet) in length is Japan’s longest wooden building!
And it is is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the [...]

Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion, is a Zen temple which is formally known as Tozan Jishoji.
With its simple and noble design,it is a National Treasure.
But don’t expect glistening silver when you visit the pavilion, the original plans to cover it with silver was abandoned at Yoshimasa’s death, who commissioned the building as a retirement villa. After [...]

The “Golden Temple” is one of Kyoto’s best-known attractions, and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1994.
The temple built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. After Yoshimitsu’s death in 1408 Kinkakuji was converted into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in accordance with Ashikaga’s wishes. [...]