The Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Tenjin (Sugawara-no-Michizane), the patron saint of students. Kitano Tenmangu is a major Shinto shrine located northwest of Kyoto, Japan. The shrine is famous for its tea ceremony in February which is performed by apprentice geisha under 1,500 blooming plum trees. Kitano Tenmangu was built in 947 AD in…
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Todaiji Temple is one of Japan’s most famous temples and is located in Nara Park in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple was built in 752 AD and consisted of two nine story pagodas, a lecture hall, quarters for the monks and the Great Buddha Hall. The complex is very large with plenty of…
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The Byodo-in Temple was originally built in 998 AD as a retreat villa for the Fujiwara family. The temple is located in the city of Uji a short distance from Kyoto. The Byodo-in Temple is part of the Jodo sect of Buddhism and is dedicated to the worship of Amida, the cosmic Buddha of “Infinite…
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Kasuga Taisha Shrine was built in 768 AD and is located in Nara Park in the city of Nara, Japan. The shrine was built by the Fujiwara clan, one of the most influential families to the imperial dynasty. The Kasuga Taish Shrine is famous for its many lanterns that are placed around the shrine grounds…
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Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan and is one of the most iconic sights in Japan. The shrine was founded in 711 AD and is one of Kyoto’s oldest and most significant places. The complex consists of five main shrines and several sub-shrines scattered on the wooded sloping hillside but the shrine is…
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Spring in Japan can mean only one thing, cherry blossoms! There are over 100 varieties of cherry trees in Japan. A large majority of them have been cultivated by humans over the centuries for decorative use in gardens and parks but a few varieties are wild and native to Japan’s forests and they can be…
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Japanese Macaques are the northern most non-human primate. They live exclusively in the Japanese Islands and are found in three of the four main islands (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu but not in Hokkaido). They are also known as “snow monkeys” because they live in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year. These…
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Senso-ji Temple is the oldest and most famous temple in Tokyo. The temple was built in 645 A. D. and is dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The temple feature two impressive entry gates, a five story pagoda, the main hall, streets lined with vendors and lots of other features that would be…
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The Arashiyama Bamboo forest is located on the outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. The forest is filled with thousands of bamboo trees that can grow up to 120 ft. high and some of the stalks can be up to 8 inches in diameter. The bamboo forest is one of the most unique places that I have…
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The Golden Pavilion is the tourist name for a Zen temple named Kinkaku-ji located in Kyoto, Japan. The temple consists of several buildings, two ponds and gardens but the highlight of the temple is the building which gives it the name “Golden Pavilion”. The Golden Pavilion is famous for its top two floors which are…
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