One thing is for sure: no visit to Kyoto would be completed with at least one visit to a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine. They are the main draw of Japan’s former imperial city where over 2,000 religious sites jostle with each other.
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Arashiyama: A Beautiful Retreat near Kyoto
Resembling an ink wash painting, Arashiyama in the western outskirt of Kyoto has long been a favorite escape of the Japanese elites. Since the Heian period, the nobles came here to unwind from the hustle of the city. Today, foreign and domestic tourists flock here to see the evergreen bamboo groves of Arashiyama, as well as to find serenity at Tenryūji – a temple with a stunning mountain backdrop.
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Nijō Castle and a Spectacular Kimono Exhibition
With wide moats, massive stone walls, and imposing keeps, Nijō Castle demonstrates the power of the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled over Japan for more than 260 years. Hidden behind this intimidating facade are, however, dreamy gardens and a magnificent palace where an exquisite collection of kimonos was on display.
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Fushimi Inari: A Stroll through Thousands of Torii
Best known for its endless trail of vermilion torii, Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. It is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, and has attracted pilgrimages and merchants for centuries. These days visitors from all over the world pour into this place to have a stroll through the beautiful holy gates, as well as to pray to the deity for luck and business success.
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Ryokan and the Japanese Hospitality
To put it simply, a ryokan is a Japanese-style inn. But unlike its Western-style counterpart, the ryokan is an embodiment of the Japanese lifestyle which was treasured and passed down over generations. From the traditional and often historical architecture to a skillful level of attention and service, spending the night at a ryokan is definitely an ideal way to experience the “true Japan”.
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Nara: The Ancient Capital of Japan
Overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, the city of Nara is usually omitted from the itinerary of many time-pressed travelers. But as Japan’s first permanent capital, Nara boasts many important scenic and historical sites. Thus, it’s definitely worth spending one or two days here to enjoy the atmosphere of ancient Japan.
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Goshuinchō: A Unique Souvenir from Japan
Meaning a “book of the seal”, a goshuinchō is used to collect stamps from shrines and temples throughout Japan. While the religious meaning of the goshuinchō still exists, many people view it as a very Japanese way to document their journey.
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Kurashiki Bikan: The Town of Old Storehouses
Totally in contrast to the surrounding concrete jungle, Kurashiki’s historic center is a rare piece of old Japan that still exists. The quarter features narrow, flagstone streets, and white-walled traditional houses lined along a delightful canal. Occasionally, a punt floats past propelled by an elderly local, giving us a glimpse into Japanese daily life centuries ago.
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Hiroshima: The Hope of A Nuclear-Free World
To most people, Hiroshima recalls an ill-fated city where hundreds of thousands of people died as the result of the world’s first atomic bomb. But if you look at the city today, you won’t believe that this place was once ground zero. Within seven decades, Hiroshima has re-born into a modern, peaceful city where people around the world came to wish for a future without nuclear weapons.
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Miyajima: On the Island of the Sea Goddesses
Considered the home of the goddesses of the sea, Miyajima has been treated as a sacred site since ancient times. The island is widely known for its gigantic torii that seem to rise from the seabed, as well as a grand shrine floating over the waves. In both cases, human craftsmanship has been skillfully integrated with the sea, reflecting harmony between Mother Nature and the human.
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Admire The Transient Beauty of Sakura
Pure and elegant, sakura (or cherry blossoms) has long been an unseparated part of Japanese culture. The flowers symbolize the arrival of spring, marking the time for renewals after a winter sleep. Yet this beauty is short-lived. After their peaks around two weeks, the blossoms start to wither, leaving a carpet of pink blush…
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Kōyasan: A Trip to the Sacred Mountain
Green and soothingly beautiful, Kōyasan in Wakayama is a spiritual retreat and one of Japan’s holiest sites. It features long avenues of vast cedar trees, as well as hundreds of temples and gardens. It’s also here that Kōbō Daishi, one of the most significant religious figures in the country, established the first center of Shingon Buddhism some 1200 years ago.
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Himeji Castle: The Beautiful White Heron
Elegant and lustrous white, Himeji Castle appears like a giant heron flying in the sky. Together with a 400-year-long history, it’s undisputedly one of the most spectacular castles in Japan. After several years of extensive renovation, Himeji Castle was re-opened to the public in March 2015. The White Heron once again dominates the sky of Himeji.
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Osaka: The Bold and the Colorful
A forest of concrete buildings, Osaka is hardly Japan’s prettiest city in the conventional sense. But this brazen city packs more color than most, with eye-catching signs and vivid shopfronts that can be found at nearly every corner. From the bustling streets of Minami to spectacular skyscrapers in Kita, Osaka is a city that definitely isn’t afraid to express itself.
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