Editors Note: We’re back from vacation and celebrating with a week of posts about our vacation destination: Tohoku! Beat the summer heat of Tokyo and the wall-to-wall crowds of Kyoto and visit Tohoku in northern Japan instead! Located just a half hour outside of Yamagata city in the Prefecture of the same name, Yamadera literally means…
Tag: buddhist
Eihei-ji
Eihei-ji temple is one of the head temples of the Soto Zen Buddhism sect and the temple grounds contain over 70 buildings housing up to 250 monks. Located in Fukui Prefecture, the area would not receive a lot of tourism if not for Eihei-ji’s tourist friendly policies and information. Tourists can explore much of the…
Setsubun
Setsubun is a festival celebrating the beginning of Spring and is observed on February 3rd in Japan. The festival is based on the Lunar calendar and Setsubun is considered to be a type of “new year” festivity and focuses on welcoming “good luck” while getting rid of “bad luck”. Setsubun is neither wholly Buddhist or…
Jizo
The image of Jizo, a jovial bald headed monk, is found throughout Buddhist temples all over Japan, and sometimes seen by themselves on the side of a road or forest path. Jizo is said to be the protector of children, and many parents who have lost a child through abortion, miscarriage or tragedy will appeal to…
Hokan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda)
In the early morning and late evening hours around Hokan-ji in eastern Kyoto, the streets are nearly deserted and you can enjoy a magical moment of alone time with this six centuries-old pagoda. Sitting on a sloped narrow stone path, this historic pagoda is mostly surrounded by traditional wooden shops and residences. At one time the pagoda…
Kamakura Daibutsu
The giant Buddha statue of Kotoku-in temple draws millions of visitors every year to Kamakura, a town already full of beautiful and ancient temples. The statue was cast over 750 years ago and has survived (more or less) many disasters including several lightning strike fires, earthquakes and even a tsunami in 1498. It is over…
南禅寺 Nanzenji (Kyoto)
Nanzenji is one of Kyoto’s most beautiful temples, in the foothills on the eastern side of the city. However, one can’t help but notice the large brick structure that cuts through the temple grounds. The structure is an aqueduct built to carry water and goods to the people of the neighboring Shiga prefecture. Though the…
365 JAPAN 