Usa Jingu Shrine 「Usa Shrine, 宇佐神宮」 is the head shrine of about 40,000 Hachiman Shrines in Japan. Hachiman Shrines are literally all over Japan, all the way up to Hokkaido. These shrines are dedicated to ...
Just about everything you see at a shrine in Japan is a symbol. At Kamigamo-jinja, 1 of 17 World Heritage sites in Kyoto, the most predominant symbols are two standing sand cones, immediately visible upon ...
Wakamiya-Hachiman-sha 「Wakamiya-Hachiman Shrine, 若宮八幡社」 in south Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture is a small local shrine with a rustic worship hall. Surrounded by a small wooded grove, this shrine is an isle of green in an ...
Kamigamo Shrine lays claim to the oldest shrine in Kyoto. This UNESCO World Heritage shrine in Kyoto is a hidden gem in the treasure of the ancient city’s historic sites. In this article: Explore Kamigamo-jinja ...
This sacred Shinto music and dance hall is used to offer prayers in the form of kagura 「sacred music and dance, 神楽」 to Inari 「God of rice, 稲荷」 at Fushimi Inari Taisha, a World Heritage ...
This small structure is a sub-shrine of the World Heritage Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. Many shrine complexes contain multiple shrines, often dedicated to deities who have a connection to the area. Another example is the ...
Stepping through Kamigamo-jinja‘s second torii is like stepping through a time portal. Together with Shimogamo-jinja, Kamigamo-jinja’s sister shrine, the two sites are called Kamo-jinja and are the oldest shrines in Kyoto. Torii indicate that you ...
After the defeat of Japan in World War II, the country clung (and/or was forced) to the idea of peace. Memorials are found all over Japan, especially in places like Hiroshima. The red torii gate, ...
Small local shrines appear in every neighbourhood in Japan. No matter their size, they always feature the same elements: a main hall, and a torii gate. Akiba Shrine, Eikakushinmachi, Toyota City Akiba Shrine also features a ...
Hakone Shrine is a popular day trip from Tokyo. This shrine was founded around 750AD, and its hillside location has deep esoteric Buddhism meaning. Around the time of the shrine’s founding, ancient beliefs said that ...
Kyoto looks beautiful in all seasons. In summer, the bright green trees shine to provide great contrast against the cities temples and shrines. Kinkakuji in Summer But there’s a downside to summer in Japan… it’s ...
It’s very rare that the first photo taken of a subject is the best. Sure, you might get lucky, but getting the best shot usually involves working the scene to pull off the vision in ...
The tower gate is a unique architectural feature of religious sites in Japan. It is one of a few buildings that are common to both shrines and temples. The rōmon is a two storied gate ...
Kyoto has many old shrines. Kinkaku-ji has a history dating back to the 1300s, Fushimi Inari Taisha traces its origins back almost 1000 years. The oldest shrine in Kyoto, one of the oldest Shinto shrines ...
Visited by over 9 million people annually, the 2nd largest shrine in Japan, home of one of the Three Sacred Imperial treasures (the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword), displaying the longest samurai sword in the world, in the heart ...
Shinto shrines in Japan share many common features, whether they are large complexes or small local shrines. Just like the haiden (worship hall), the temizuya (water purification pavilion) is not only found at all Shinto ...
With an ancient path leading down Hakone-yama「Mount Hakone, 箱根山」to the famous Ashinoko「Lake Ashi, 芦ノ湖」and its views of Fuji-san「Mount Fuji, 富士山」tall cedar trees surround Hakone Shrine for a peaceful shrine experience. After ascending the 150+ steps up ...
Hidden in the “Forest Where Lies are Revealed”, at a fork in Kyoto‘s Kamo River, just north of the Gion area, is the ancient site of Shimogamo Shrine. In this article: Explore Shimogamo-jinja (photos & ...
Seeing Kyoto by bicycle is the best way to take in this historic city. This detailed guide will show you where to hire a bicycle and exact routes to get you around the city.
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