Miyajima: Daishoin Temple
The Daishoin Temple on the lower slopes of Mt. Misen was founded by Kobodaishi in 806 and is the headquarters of the Omuro Branch of Shingon Buddhism. The temple can… Read more »
Category: Photos
Miyajima Shrines
Itsukushima Shrine is the largest shrine on Miyajima and the place most people want to see first. It dates back to the 6th century, though it was built in its… Read more »
Miyajima
Miyajima (Shrine Island) is, as the name implies, the site of a number of striking shrines and temples. It claims to be “one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Spots” (the… Read more »
Himeji: Kokoen Garden
The Kokoen, located a short walk from the castle, consists of 9 formal gardens, some of them very beautiful.
Himeji Castle
The city of Himeji boasts Japan’s most impressive-looking surviving castle. A castle was first built on the site in 1333 but was largely destroyed in the subsequent civil wars. The… Read more »
Osaka: Doutonbori
Doutonbori Street is Osaka’s primary entertainment district. It comes to life at night: bright, noisy and crowded.
Koya-san Central Temples
An interesting cluster of temples is located near the center of Koya-san, where Kobodaishi first established his monastery.
Koya-san Corporate Monuments
We leave the cemetery by the “corporate monuments path,” along which major corporations have built monuments for the spiritual benefit of their workers (and also possibly for the advertising value.)
Koya-san: The Okunoin
At the heart of the cemetery lies the Okunoin, a temple or mausoleum built over the cave where Kobodaishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, has spent the last 1,100 years… Read more »
Koya-san: The Okunoin Cemetery
On the eastern side of the plateau there is a gigantic cemetery, centuries old, where monuments for half a million people sit beneath towering 700-year-old trees.