The Best Religious Sites in Japan

With its top two stories completely coated in pure gold leaf, Kinkaku-ji gleams in the sunlight and reflects off the pond at its edge. This Z

Originally built as 15th-century shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa's retirement villa, Ginkakuji Temple stands as a testament to developing Higashiya

A World Heritage Site dating back to 728 CE, Todai-ji Temple has served as a central Buddhist temple complex known for its administrative con

Pay a visit to the World Heritage Site of Nikko Tosho-gu, a Shinto temple that contains the burial place of Tokugawa Iyeasu, the founder of t

With a history spanning over five centuries, Ryoanji Temple boasts probably the nation's most iconic rock garden. Founded in 1450, the temple

A visit to the sacred complex of Ise Grand Shrine allows you to discover a series of Shinto sacred sites centered on two main temples. The 12

Admire the monumental statue of Kōtoku-in, one of the largest Buddha figures in Japan. The towering bronze statue dates back to the 13th cent

Known for its eleven-headed statue of a bodhisattva associated with mercy, Hase-dera Temple probably dates back to the 8th century CE. Though

Likely the oldest site of its kind in the country, Izumo Taisha Shrine also represents as one of the most important places of worship in the

Dedicated to the Shinto god of learning Tenjin, Dazaifu Tenman-gu traces its origins back to the year 905. Wander the complex and admire the