The most beautiful religious buildings Japan

It is certainly the most famous monument in Japan. It takes its name from the large golden-roofed pavilion in the middle of the park, which is brilliantly reflected in the surrounding lake. The park surrounding the garden is just as sublime as the pavilion itself.

The pavilion. Built on the site of the country house of Kintsune Saionji, a nobleman of the Kamakura period, at the beginning of the 13th century. The shōgun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, after handing over power to his son Yoshimichi, decided to retire and had the Golden Pavilion, which he designed, and the gardens built in 1397. Upon his death, his son converted it into the Rokuon Temple. It is also called Rokuon-ji. The suicide of a young mad monk caused the pavilion to burn down in 1950. This tragic accident was immortalized by Yukio Mishima in his novel The Golden Pavilion. The pavilion was rebuilt identically in 1955, although gold leaf originally covered only the second floor. The building is entirely covered with pure gold, except for the ground floor. It serves as a shariden, containing relics of Buddha. From an architectural point of view, it is a harmonious and elegant building that combines three different types of architecture: the ground floor (Hō-sui-in) is in the Shinden-zukuri style, the style of palaces of the Heian period; the first floor (Chō-on-dō) follows the Buke-zukuri style of samurai houses and the second floor (Kukkyō-chō) is in the Karayō style, that of Zen temples. At the top of the shingled roof is the carving of a golden fenghuang, or "Chinese phoenix".

The garden. It was part of a gigantic property belonging to the family of Kintsune Saionji. It was designed by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga in such a way that the arrangement of rocks and plants gives it a Zen style. It is believed that his design was directly influenced by Kokushi Mus, the great master of moss gardens. The garden was devastated during the Civil War and only the Golden Pavilion survived. We can notice the Sekka-tei Tea Pavilion, built in the 17th century and the Kyōhoku-rō, a construction dating from the Meiji era. The whole (garden and pavilion) is since 1994 classified in the world heritage of the Humanity of UNESCO. Try to go there a little before or after the lunch break to avoid the crowd of organized trips that crowds around the pavilion trying to find the perfect photograph to immortalize the beauty of the place.

Located in the north of Nara Park, it is one of the most famous temple complexes in Nara and Japan. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is so large and there is so much to see that one can easily spend the afternoon there. Tōdai-ji was built in the ^8th century by order of Emperor Shōmu. After a series of natural disasters, the emperor decided that every province would have a Buddhist temple and that Tōdai-ji would be built to be at the head of these temples. The emperor's political plan was to create a centralized state based on Buddhism. Construction took over 20 years, and the temple opened in 752. It held immense power during the Nara period but declined when the capital was moved to Kyoto in 794. Destroyed or burned several times, notably by the Taira clan in 1180, and rebuilt in 1195 by the monk Chōgen Sunjōbō, it was burned again in 1567 and rebuilt by Tsunayoshi Tokugawa in 1708. Its last restoration was in 1980. Originally, the Tōdai-ji included, in addition to the current buildings, 2 large pagodas with 10 and 7 floors. The Tōdaiji houses the Daibutsuden, the Buddha pavilion, and other pavilions scattered throughout a large park.

Daibutsu-den or Kon-dō. In front of the building, a stone pillar is topped by an octagonal lantern dating from the ^8th century. The Daibutsu-den, which houses the gigantic bronze statue of Buddha, is 57 m long and 50 m wide. Its height is 47 meters. It is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, yet it is only a modest reconstruction of the original building. It consists of a double roof, supported by pillars knotted together by a metal ring to support the gigantic weight (450 tons). The building was constructed in four years, from 747 to 751, at the same time as the statue. The statue itself represents Vairocana Buddha, or Resplendent Buddha. It is 15 meters high and weighs 450 tons. It is the largest statue of this Buddha in the world. It was cast in 749 with a special technique called garakuri. It was first damaged by an earthquake in 885, then in the successive fires in 1180 and 1567, but the statue was always repaired. Nevertheless, the renovations made it lose its homogeneity. Thanks to X-rays, a tooth, pearls, mirrors and swords were discovered in the knee of the statue. These are believed to be relics of the emperor Shōmu.

Nandai-mon. South Gate. It was built in 1199 and is 29 m high and 11 m deep. The building is five ken (1 ken is 182 centimeters) in length and two ken in depth. This gate, built in the Tenjiku-yō style, houses two large statues of Nio executed by Unkei and Kaikei. One has a closed mouth and the other an open mouth. It gives off an impression of powerful anger and determination. Behind the two statues are 2 lion dogs (koma-inu) executed by the Chinese sculptor Chinnakei in 1196.

Chū-mon is connected to Daibutsu-den by corridors. Near the Mirror Pond, one will notice the locations of the two pagodas, seven and ten stories high respectively.

Nigatsu-dō. Founded in 752, it was rebuilt in 1669. This hall houses two statues of Kannon, one of which is said to have been found in Ōsaka Bay by the monk Jichū. Visiting this hall is not permitted to the public.

Hokke-dō. This hall was built by Ryōben, a member of the Kegon-Shū sect in 733. Sculptures dating from the ^8th to the ^14th centuries can be seen here.

Shōrō (or belfry). Built in 1239, it contains the largest clapperless bell in Japan.

Kaisan-dō (Founder's Hall). Built in 1019 and rebuilt in 1250 in the Tenjiku-yō style. It contains a statue of Ryōben which is usually only visible on December 16.

Kaidan-in (Ordination Hall). It contains the clay Shi-Tennō, guardians of the Four Directions and dating from the Tempyō period, during the reign of Emperor Shōmu, from 729 to 749.

Shōsō-in (imperial treasure). Located north of Daibutsu-den, the building was constructed in 760 in the azekura-zukuri (kura: granaries) style. The building is supported by forty pillars with a height of 2.50 meters. The roof is in Yosemune style and covered with tiles. Nowadays, the treasure is kept in Nara National Museum. It is exhibited every year from the end of October to the beginning of November.

Tegai-mon. This is one of the oldest buildings in the temple as it dates back to 752. According to legend, walking in front of this building is supposed to cure diseases. The Shunjō-dō holds a statue of Chōgen Sunjōbō that can only be seen on July 5.

Kasuga Taisha. This shrine is located southeast of Todai-ji. It was founded in 709 by Fuhitō Fujiwara and dedicated to the deity Takemikazuchi of Kashima Jingū Shrine. The three thousand bronze and stone lanterns that adorn the park are illuminated only twice a year, during setsubun (February) and o-bon (August). The shrine had many buildings which did not all escape the terrible fires. Nevertheless, one can still notice the Nandai-mon gate (1179) which opens on the first courtyard. Then, after the Chū mon gate, one reaches another courtyard, where four Nagare-zukuri (asymmetrical roofs) style shrines stand. The shrine is known for its theater and music arts.

Itsukushima-jinja is established on the island of Miyajima, at the foot of Mount Misen. The great Torii of Miyajima has existed since the renovation of the shrine by Taira no Kiyomori in 1168. Cleared at low tide, the main shrine consists of the Hai Den and the main hall, the Hon Den. A platform hosts the bugaku dance. The first shrine was built in the 6th century in 593, although this date is questioned by scholars who favour 811. Kiyomori Taira renovated the shrine and raised the vermilion-colored torii into the sea. It was restored several times, notably in 1168, 1241 and 1571. The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano'o, characters from Shintō mythology who are said to have caused another of their sisters, Amaterasu, to withdraw into a cave. The stage of the Nō Theatre dates from 1680, making it one of the oldest in Japan. It is located further south. The treasure pavilion contains sutras and also the Heike no Kyō, consisting of 33 volumes of sutras. These are purely Buddhist texts, with the exception of one volume devoted to the vows made by Taira no Kiyomori. At the back, on the hill to the north, one can see the Thousand Tatami Pavilion, the Senjō Kaku. This pavilion, built in 1587, was donated by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Miyajima has many other temples such as, for example, Daigan-ji, which is said to date from 1201 and is located south of the shrine.

The most important Shinto shrine of Kamakura, it is dedicated to the god Hachiman, patron saint of the Minamoto family and warriors in general. It was built in 1063 not far from the bay of Kamakura by Yorioshi Minamoto, as a replica of the Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū shrine in Kyoto, the tutelary sanctuary of his clan and dedicated to the emperor Ōjin. For more than 700 years, the shrine was also a Buddhist temple, until the separation of the two religions was decided in 1868.

The sanctuary is located in the middle of a beautiful garden on one of the city's hills. After crossing the red arch, you pass over the Akabashi, a half-moon bridge that divides the Gempei pond, which is composed of two rooms where impressive lotuses grow. We then arrive in front of the Maidono dance pavilion. It is here that Shizuka, Yoshitsune Minamoto's mistress, danced at Yoritomo's request to betray her brother's hiding place. She didn't reveal anything and narrowly escaped death. Her bravery is commemorated with plays nō and dances at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū festival, September 14-16. Legend has it that one of the two ponds contains three islands and the other four, "san" and "shi" symbolizing the numbers of birth and death respectively. The white and red lotuses also symbolize the beginning and end of life. Past the Maidono, a high staircase leads to the main building of the temple. There, the treasures of the sanctuary such as swords and masks are displayed.

Within the temple Sensō-ji enclosure stands one of the city's best-known shrines, Asakusa jinja, also known as Sanja-sama. Located east of the main building, it is marked by the stone torii. It was built in 1649 in honour of the 3 founders of Sensō-ji, and unlike the latter, it resisted the air raids of World War II. The sanctuary is at the heart of the Sanja-matsuri festivities in mid-May, when the o-mikoshi are carried in procession through the neighbourhood. With a bit of luck, you will also come across married couples there.

Unquestionably one of the most spectacular temples in Kyoto. It is known for the 1001 wooden statues of the goddess Kannon lined up in the main pavilion, drowned in incense fumes.
Originally built in 1164 for Emperor Go-Shirakawa by Kiyonomori no Taira before they became enemies. The temple burned down in 1249 and was rebuilt as it was in 1266. It consists of a huge hall 119 m long and 18 m wide, divided into thirty-three bays. They represent the thirty-three forms of reincarnation of Kannon Bosatsu, which gave rise to the 33 western pilgrimages and the 33 eastern pilgrimages. In the center of the hall is the famous 3-meter-high statue of Kannon with ten heads and the statue of Amida, executed by Tankei (1254), son of Unkei. Another must-see is the incredible series of 1,001 statues of Kannon, arranged in staggered rows, which were carved using the so-called yosegi technique: hollow pieces of wood were assembled and loosely carved, then other craftsmen worked on the details, before lacquering the statues. At the back are the Nijūhachi Bushū, or 28 statues of Senju Bosatsu's acolytes, which symbolize the twenty-eight constellations in esoteric Buddhism.

Myoho-in. This is the main temple of the Sanjūsangen-dō located north of the Chishaku-in. The temple is open only on rare occasions. It was originally built on the slopes of Mount Hiei. It still houses paintings by Shoei and Eitoku Kanō.

On the slopes of Mount Otowa, the Kiyomizu-dera, is dedicated to the Kannon goddess of compassion. It is one of the most visited sites in the city, especially for the superb view of Kyōto as the sun sets. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 778. According to legend, the monk Enshin, guided by a vision, met a hermit near the waterfall and realized that he was an incarnation of Kannon. He decides to protect this sacred area. Two years later, Tamuramarō Sakanoe (758-811), general of the armies who had subdued the rebel tribes in 776 and received the distinction of Sei-i-Tai shōgun, was hunting in the vicinity. Enshin rebuked him and taught him the virtues of Kannon. Touched, the general decided to build the temple of pure water on the spot and to preserve an eleven-headed statue of Kannon, which Enshin is said to have executed. This would only be visible every thirty-three years.
Most of the buildings were destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times. The present pavilions date mostly from the 16th century. They were rebuilt in 1633 under Iemitsu Tokugawa. The platform of the Kiyomizu, about 190 square metres, is supported by an imposing 13-metre-high scaffolding made of 18 cypress wood pillars attached to each other without the use of nails, using a traditional construction method. By heading east, we can see the Shaka-dō, the Amida-dō and finally the Okuno-in, built on the site of the Enchin hermitage. It is here that the sacred triple waterfall (Otowa no Taki), which is the object of pilgrimages, rises. Priests come to pray under the waterfall.

Stroll at the exit of the temple. When you leave the Kiyomizu-dera temple, you walk for several hundred meters on the right side of the small road to Shichimiya Honpo. After climbing a staircase, we reach a street called Sannen-zaka, lined with wooden houses and whose main activity is selling pottery. There are also a few tea houses with their gardens. Going down a little bit, you first turn left and then right to reach another zigzag street called Ninen-Zaka ("two-year climbing") which leads to the temple Kōdai-ji. In this neighbourhood, there is a street considered to be one of the most charming streets in Kyoto, Ishibei Kōji. It is a paved alley lined with old Japanese inns where you can have a drink or a snack. The Maruyama-kōen park is only a few steps away.

The residence of a nobleman, Yorimichi Fujiwara, was converted into a temple in 1052, and although rebuilt in 1336 following a fire, it has become, by the grace of time, one of the most beautiful buildings in Japan.

Ho' o-do. The Phoenix Hall was built in 1053. Its name was probably Amida-dō. The Phoenix had always been Buddha's protector in China, so an architectural structure was chosen that allowed the Phoenix to fly and spread its wings with its symmetrical reflection reflected in the waters of a pond. All this represents the image of the true pure earth, dear to Amida. Two other bronze phoenixes face him at the ends of the roof. This is a perfect illustration of the great architecture of the Heian period. Through this building, you can also realize what Kyōto looked like and its architectural richness, partly destroyed by civil war and accidental fires. The statue of Amida meditates in true pure earth. It is the only authenticated work in Japan by the sculptor Jōchō.

Kannon-do. This room, which stands on the site of the fishing pavilion (tsuridono) of the first residence on the banks of the river, was rebuilt in the Kamakura period. In the hall, Kannon is depicted surrounded by Jiz Bosatsu and Fud My- who were executed during the Fujiwara clan period.

Homotsukan. It is the treasure of the temple. It is closed all year round except from April1 to May 31 and September 15 to November 30. It contains the original ornaments of the Phoenix roof and the bell, which is among the most beautiful in Japan, with its carved bestiary and creatures of paradise.

The shrine is located between the Gion and Higashiyama districts and dominates the main avenue Shijō-dōri.It is said to have been founded in 876. It is called Gion-san, as it is considered by the inhabitants of Kyoto as the real guardian of the Gion district. It is very popular during Hatsumode, i.e. visits to the shrine for New Year's greetings. The shrine is also at the heart of the great Gion Matsuri festival which takes place in July and is undoubtedly one of the most famous festivals in all of Japan.

If the Golden and Silver Pavilions are among the most visited and known monuments in Japan, the Ryōan-ji (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon) is probably the most admired Zen garden. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery Ryōan was founded in 1450 by Katsumoto (1430-1473). The temple was burned during the Onin Civil War and rebuilt by Masamoto Hosokawa, son of Katsumoto, from 1488 to 1499. It is assumed that it was between this date and 1507, the date of Masamoto's death, that Sōami (1455-1525) designed the garden in the kare-sansui (dried mountain water) style. This garden is now considered one of the masterpieces of the Japanese Zen period.

The garden. With a surface area of 200^m2

, it is a rectangular garden enclosed by a wall on three sides, the last being open to a corridor. The entire surface area of the garden is an ocean of gravel on which fifteen rocks of different sizes are arranged and placed in such a way that, whatever your position in the corridor, you may only see fourteen of them. This ocean of gravel is carefully raked every day by the monk in charge of the temple. Behind the wall, tombs are lined up, including those of Emperor Go Shujaku (1009-1045).

The lake Oshidōri. In the center of the temple, there is a large lake in the middle of which a small island can be seen. It is a bucolic scenery that leads to contemplation. A walk around the lake in the lush nature is a real treat.

The large Inca temple in ruins reflects the entrance of this attraction. You must face Crystal Skull which protects the path to the Fountain of Youth. Fortunately for you, Indiana Newspaper has already mapped the way for your jeep… But this adventure gives you many surprises!

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful temples in Nara, Kōfuku-ji has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1998. It was the headquarters of the Hossō sect, which professes that all phenomena are projections of the spirit. Tutelary temple of the Fujiwara, a dynasty founded in 669 in Yamashina by Kamatari Fujiwara (614-669), patriarch of the Fujiwara dynasty that ruled Japan until the 12th century. The son, Fuhitōfujiwara, with the support of the empress Genshō (681-748) and the emperor Shōmu (689-756), had the temple dismantled and moved to Nara in 710. It was, at the time, one of the first religious establishments in the new capital. It belonged to what was called the Nanto Shichi Daiji, that is to say the "seven great temples", which included the following Buddhist temples spread in the ancient city of Nara: Daian-ji, Gango-ji, Horyu-ji, Kofuku-ji, Saidai-ji, Todai-ji and Yakushi-ji. Many of them are still visible today and reveal the splendor of the capital. Originally, the temple consisted of 175 buildings. Its present appearance is what remained of the original temple after the fire of 1717. When you visit this huge complex, you can see the following buildings:

The mainGolden Pavilion burned seven times. It was only recently rebuilt to its original proportions, and reopened in October 2018. It houses, among other things, Boddisattva statues from the Kamakura period, and the Hossō pillar with portraits of all the patriarchs of the sect.

Hokuendō. Small octagonal hall, built in memory of Fuhitōfujiwara in 1143 and restored in 1208.

Sanjū-no-tō. A famous 3-story pagoda, symbolic of Nara, it houses beautifully painted Buddhas.

Tō-kon-dō (Eastern Golden Pavilion). Dedicated to Empress Genshō and built in 726, it was restored in 1415 for the last time.

Other buildings: On the other side, the Western Golden Pavilion, the Sai-Kon-dō.

Opposite the Gojūnotō Pagoda is the Nan En-dō, another octagonal building founded in 843 by Fuyutsugu Fujiwara and which was restored in 1741. Of note is a statue of Kannon executed by Kokei in 1189. As for the pagoda, it is five stories high. It is one of the highest in the country.

Kokuho-kan. National Treasures Museum, it is the most recent building of the site which was built in 1959 to house and protect the wonders of Nara temples.

Sarusawa Pond reflects the five-story pagoda on full moon nights.

Located to the east of Tokyo Tower, Shiba Park was home, until the ^17th century, to over a hundred shrines built around the Zōzō-Ji temple. The temple was the Kantō headquarters of the Jōdō-shū (Pure Land Sect), whose masters were all Chinese. It was founded by Shūei (809-884), a disciple of Kūkai. Initially dependent on the Shingon-shū, it then passed to the Jōdō-shū by the monk Shōsō, at the end of the ^14th century. Ieyasu Tokugawa made it a family temple in 1590, and the temple accumulated wealth donated by daimyō and merchants, as it was on the edge of the Tōkaido road. At the height of its glory, the temple comprised over 120 buildings. The mausoleums of 6 of the 15 Tokugawa shoguns are located here.

After the Meiji Restoration and the decline of Buddhism, the estate was transformed into a park. Destroyed during the Second World War, it was rebuilt in 1974, but posed many problems for the development of the Shiba district. The two-storey main gate dates back to 1622. It is the oldest wooden building in the city and the only temple structure to have survived the bombardments of the Second World War. Many stone statuettes (jizō) of children can be seen here, serving as prayer supports for parents who have lost a child before or shortly after birth.

Throughout the year, numerous events and ceremonies bring this religious site to life. Sutra writing sessions are held every 14th of the month, except July and August.

This Shinto shrine celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019. Linked to the national construction of the 19th century, it is dedicated to the spirits of the Japanese who died for their homeland, from the Boshin War to the present day. It is currently a controversial place as it houses the remains of war criminals (notably that of General Tōjō who orchestrated many massacres, including the infamous Nanking massacre in 1937). Each of the Japanese Prime Minister's visits to this holy place immediately triggers a wave of protest from Beijing and Seoul.

The name of this temple appears in The Tale of Genji, a famous work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu, a court lady of the Heian period. Kanzeon-ji was built in memory of Empress Saimei by her son, Emperor Tenji. It became the most important Buddhist temple in Kyushu, exerting great influence on all other temples in the region. A bronze Bonsho bell, the oldest in Japan, can be seen here.

Not far from the great Buddha of Kamakura, this luminous temple of the Jodo sect overlooks the ocean. Probably founded around the 11th century, it is known for the eleven-headed wooden statue of Kannon, housed in the main pavilion. The entrance is at the foot of Mount Kamakura. On the way up, you can see the rows of jizō commemorating the stillborn children. Near the main pavilion, a cave is dedicated to the Benzaiten goddess of femininity and beauty. The temple is the ^4th stop of the pilgrimage of the 33 temples.