Kansai Japan

Ryouan-ji

Ryouan-ji is a temple that contains perhaps the most famous Japanese rock garden in the world. The reason being it was the first rock garden. The entrance fee is a little high in our opinion for what you get to see at the temple. Ryouanji is not very large and there is not much to see [...]

Continue reading...

Enryakuji Temple

On top of Mt. Hiei sits Enryaku-ji temple. The founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, Saicho established the temple in 788. Enryaku-ji is still a very active temple where monks practice. Monks at this temple have kept a sacred fire going for 1200 years straight. Popularity: 62% [?]

Continue reading...

Ninaji Temple

Reserved for Ninaji Temple. Popularity: 18% [?]

Continue reading...

Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle, or Nijo-jo, is a walled fortified castle surrounded by a moat. This castle gets very busy so you may want to arrive early in the day. Nijo Castle is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Nijo-jo was built for the Tokugawa Shoguns. The floors were built in a way to specifically make a creaking [...]

Continue reading...

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion)

Kinkakuji Temple is known as the Gold Pavilion. However, its formal and true name is Rokuon-ji. If you look at Unesco’s list of sites they list this temple as Rokuon-ji. Kinkakuji was built in 1397 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and covered in gold to display great presence. Kinkakuji was destroyed by fire in 1950 and [...]

Continue reading...

Unesco World Heritage Sites In Kyoto

Kyoto is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The 17 sites are: Kamomioya-jinja Kyo-o-gokoku-ji (To-ji) Kiyomizu-dera Enryaku-ji Daigo-ji Ninna-ji Byodo-in Ujigami-jinja Kozan-ji Saiho-ji Tenryu-ji Rokuon-ji Jisho-ji Ryoan-ji, Kinkaku-ji Hongan-ji Nijo-jo Popularity: 9% [?]

Continue reading...