There is a 4000 yen entrance fee, you must book in advance, and you’ll need to do some Japanese writing before you visit the main event. I’m talking about Kyoto’s Saihoji Temple, also known as the Moss Temple. Here’s what to expect if you’re wondering whether to add it to your plans.
Shrines and Temples
There are thousands of shrines and temples in Japan, so how do you decide which to visit? Here’s a guide to our favourites.
How to Get to the Stunning Ukimido Shrine From Kyoto
Sitting at the end of a small jetty, this shrine, a short train journey from Kyoto, blew me away with its stillness and beauty. Here’s how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
The Quirky Choan-ji Temple in Hakone
Stumbling across the statue-strewn grounds of Choan-ji Temple in Hakone was the highlight of my Hakone trip. Here’s what you need to know if you want to visit…
Should you Visit Kanazawa’s Ninja Temple?
You can’t take any photos, there’s an obligatory tour all in Japanese, you have to make a reservation to even get onto said tour – and, frankly, the reviews online aren’t always good. So, how did a trip to Myouryu-ji, Kanazawa’s Ninja Temple, turn out to be one of the highlights of my trip to Kanazawa? Read on and find out…
Collecting The ‘Seven Lucky God’ Stamps in Nagano
If you’re looking for something fun to do in Nagano, how about collecting stamps from the Seven Lucky Gods? The city has a walking course where you can pick up a special sheet and then go around seven shrines/temples in the city collecting their individual red seals. It’s a great way to see some smaller places you might not visit otherwise. Here’s what you need to know…
Visiting Nagoya’s Most Unusual Shrines
There’s a lot to do in Nagoya – but, one of my days was filled exploring some of Nagoya’s most quirky shrines. If you’re looking for a list of unusual things to do in Nagoya, you might want to start here.
Where to Find the ‘Lucky’ Kyoto Buddhist Statues
Here’s a fun thing to do when you’re in Kyoto – some of the shrines or temples have statues in them, our outside, that you can touch or rub for good luck – finding them all is a good way to keep small children (and some adults) interested while visiting a few different shrines in one day – but, where are the stones and what do you need to do at them to ‘make merit’.
Here’s a full list of all eight of them – with locations, and a simple walking route to ‘catch them all.
Goshuin: How to Collect These Beautiful Stamps on Your Japan Trip
Goshuin are hand-drawn designs that you can collect from shrines and temples around Japan – and they make a beautiful souvenir of your trip. But, as with everything in Japan, there’s a little bit of etiquette involved with collecting them – so, here’s what you need to know. What Are Goshiun? Originally, goshuin were stamps … Read more