Naritasan Shinshorji Temple

When I first entered Narita’s temple more than twenty years ago, a New Year’s day ceremony was in full force. I climbed the steep steps to find there was no way I could squeeze into the main hall. Worshippers sat shoulder to shoulder while the sound of a drum beat a hypnotic rhythm.

Senso-ji Temple

While Senso-ji was the oldest temple site in Tokyo, it was rebuilt a number of times. The present reincarnation was modelled on the 1692 version.

District of a thousand temples

I strolled the streets of Tokyo’s Yanaka District where it felt like there were temples on every corner. In fact, there were sixty — still a surprising number for this small district.

Kyoto’s Eikando Temple

This temple was burned down during the Onin Wars, but reconstructed in 1497. Later other buildings were added to the grounds for another sect of Buddhism.

Nanzenji Temple

This Kyoto temple was once the headquarters for a sect of Zen Buddhism, but in 1291 the detached palace was converted into a temple. As I passed by the main hall, I couldn’t help notice the number of gardeners busily keeping the grounds immaculate.

Seiryo-ji Temple

This Buddhist temple was set in quiet grounds in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district. The site was once a mountain villa, but was later converted into Seiryo-ji Temple.

Sho-ren-in

Sho-ren-in was known as one of the five Monzeki temples in Kyoto whose head priests were originally from the imperial family. It was one of the main lodgings in the mountain used by several well known priests.

A Zen experience

At the entrance to Kyoto’s Kodai-ji Temple, was a familiar sight at Zen temples, mani wheels. A girl with itchy fingers fidgeted while I took a photo then spun the wheels.

Drawn by a giant Bodhisattva

Once I passed the tourist shops from Kiyomizu-dera and the crowds thinned, I spotted a giant Bodhisattva statue I had to explore. Ryozen-kannon was a twenty-four metre high Bodhisattva statue that dominated the landscape.

Stepping up to Kiyomizu-dera

The route along Kyoto’s Gojo-dori was lined with tourist traps, but it didn’t end there. I headed to Kiyomizu-dera temple where souvenirs hovered right up to the temple steps.