BLOG

Inuyama Castle is one of the 12 remaining castles and the oldest original wooden castle in Japan today. Originally constructed in 1537, Inuyama is also one of only five castles to have been designate...

The Ise Grand Shrine is the most important Shinto complex in Japan. Dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu-Omikami, the complex is made-up of multiple shrines—a total of 125—and other structures cent...

Leading to the Inner Shrine of the Ise Grand Shrine, Oharaimachi is an 800 meter stretch of traditional buildings, souvenir shops, and restaurants. This pleasant area has been serving pilgrims and vi...

Located on the Kii Peninsula, the ‘Kumano Kodo’ is one of only two – along with the Camino de Santiago in Spain – religious pilgrimage routes in the world to have been afforded World Heritage status....

Located at the centre of the Kumano Kodo network of pilgrimage trails, the Kumuno Hongu Tasiha, also referred to as ‘Tanabe’ is one of the Kumano Grand Shrines. It enshrines Kumano Gongen, the shrine...

Kumano Nachi Taisha includes both a Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple – which for most of their history were under the control of one religious authority. Facing ‘Nachi-no-taki’, a 133 metre tall wat...

The Kumano Hayatama Taisha, also referred to as ‘Shingu’ is one of the Kumano Grand Shrines. Located on the coast in Shingu City, the shrine is nearby the mouth of the Kumano River from which water f...

As the centre of the Shingon Buddhism, Mount Koya or ‘Koyasan’ is one of Japan’s most important centres. Founded in the 9th century by the monk Kukai – one of the most significant historic and re...

As the mausoleum of Kobo Dashi, founder of Shingon Buddhism, Okunoin Temple is the most important site in the Koyasan (Mount Koya) complex and one of the most important temples in Japan. Also kno...