More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan

Kenzanji is a small rural temple belonging to the Shingon sect and is located near Hioki in Kagoshima. The Hondo, main hall, is a la...

Behind the Obaku Zen temple Toko-ji in Hagi, Yamaguchi , lies the large graveyard/cemetery housing the tombs of the Mori lords and the...

Across the river from where Gassan Toda castle once stood are two torii, the left goes up to Toda Hachimangu, the main shrine for the Am...

Following the suggested route, temple number 8 is the third temple to visit on the pilgrimage. A small temple on the hillside above Umi...

Perched right on top of 450 meter high Hoshikamiyama, Seijyoji is probably the highest of all the temples on the Izumo Pilgrimage. Al...

Mokoso Shrine, located in a grove of trees just south of Yakumo is an ancient shrine listed in the 8th Century Izumo Fudoki where it is ...

Decided to take a break from the interminable sequence of garden chores that go along with the rainy season here and took advantage of...

If there is one icon for Okinawa, it must be the Shisa. They can be seen everywhere, usually in pairs, on roofs, flanking gateways etc...

The seventh day of my walk along the Izumo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage promised to be yet another fine May day. My route is going to take me...

Wandering around the countryside in the Fall it is easy to notice shrines and temples by the brilliant foliage of ginko trees. Unfortu...