Temples, Shrines & More– category –

I decided to study a little about Buddhist temples before embarking on my Saigoku Pilgrimage of the Thirty-Three Temples.I had AI write some support articles about Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyō). Esoteric Buddhism, known in Japanese as mikky...

I visited Tofukuji for the first time in 2025.The charming station area and streetscape were captivating — the whole town felt like one vast temple complex. I went just before the peak of autumn foliage, but it was more than enough to en...

In 2026 — the Year of the Horse — I paid a visit to Fujinomori Shrine, which has deep connections to horses. I'll have AI write a supporting article about Fujinomori Shrine. The photos will be my own originals. Tucked away in the Fushimi...

One day in April 2025, I visited Nagaoka Tenjin (Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine). Normally, the azaleas would already be past their peak by that time of year, but that season they were about a week late, and my visit happened to coincide perfec...

I visited during the Shichi-Go-San season of 2025.If you are a woman facing an important decision in your life, why not pay a visit to Himejima Shrine? I'll have AI write a supporting article about Himejima Shrine. The photos will be my ...

Before heading to Nijo Castle, I visited Shinsen-en in the morning and had lunch at a nearby café. I'll have AI write a supporting article about Shinsen-en. The photos will be my own originals. Tucked just south of the famous Nijo Castle...

Highlights of the Kyoto Museum of Culture | Discovering the History and Culture of Kyoto in Depth I visited here on a day in March 2026. I had been once before, a few years ago, but that time I only saw the annex. The main building offer...

One day in February 2026, I visited Nijo Castle in Kyoto, dressed in kimono. It had been about 15 years since my last visit.The castle was bustling with many tourists. The garden is vast, and it took quite a while to walk all the way aro...

From Hankyu Kyoto Line, transfer at Katsura Station onto the Arashiyama Line — two stops along, just before Arashiyama, is Matsuo-taisha. I visited on the same day as my trip to Katsura Imperial Villa, combining the two into one outing. ...

On a clear day in June, I visited Kannon-shoji Temple.This time I gave up on the stairs and drove up to the parking lot, then continued on foot from there. I had AI write a support article about Kannon-shoji. The photos are all original....

For over ten years, I had driven past this place countless times, always thinking: "One day, I must go." That place was Katsura Rikyu. In April 2026, I finally had the chance to visit — and I went dressed in kimono. Guided by a staff mem...

In March 2026, after hosting a kimono lunch gathering at the Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo — right in front of JR Kyoto Station — I decided to take the short walk over to Toji Temple. Though I had passed by it countless times by car, this w...

Engyoji Temple marks the westernmost point of the Saigoku Pilgrimage. At the end of April, with fresh green leaves filling the air, I took a bus from JR Himeji Station to the ropeway terminal, then rode up to Shoshazan — the mountain on ...

I visited Yoshimine-dera in the fresh green season of 2026, when the bush warblers were singing. Some visitors walked up from the bus stop at the foot of the mountain, but I drove up the narrow, steep road by car. I had AI write a suppor...

My local temple, Sōjiji, was where my Saigoku Pilgrimage truly began. I visited on the day of the Hochoshiki ceremony in April — which happened to coincide with the once-a-year opening of the principal image. I purchased a dedicated pilg...

I began the Saigoku Pilgrimage in 2026. It all started with the Noh chant Chikubushima. I had always wanted to visit the island someday. And then I realized — Rokuhara Mitsuji in Kyoto, which I visited last year; Rokkakudo, which I have ...