All About Japan

48 Hours in Kyoto on a Budget

This isn’t Kyoto for the faint-hearted. So lace up your comfy shoes and get ready to hit the pavement!

The Snowscape of Daigo Temple

The hidden Daigo Temple is one site you won't want to miss—especially in winter when snow blankets the grounds!

Test Your Knowledge of Famous Japanese Sites

Think you've traveled enough through Japan to figure out where these landmarks are from?

5 Things to Do Around Asakusa

In addition to its famous temple, the area around Asakusa presents shops that offer unusual and unique products that are different from what you might find at department stores and mass retailers around the country. And you can catch sumo, too!

Hit 3 Sites in Hiraizumi in Just One Day!

The UNESCO-registered temples and gardens of Hiraizumi represented an attempt to create an ideal world on Earth.

5 Vital Temple & Shrine Etiquette Tips

While going to a temple or shrine simply to observe is satisfactory on its own, it's well worth learning how to fully participate to get the most out of the experience.

No Trees, No Kiyomizu-dera

What are the three most notable woody materials used in the construction of Kiyomizu-dera?

6 Differences Between Temples & Shrines

I decided, once and for all, to figure out the differences between a temple and a shrine.

New Year's at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple!

Texan in Tokyo takes you on a traditional Japanese New Year's journey!

A Guide to the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails

Winding through the Kii Peninsula, these are the only UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage trails in Japan.

Interpreting the Key 'Omikuji'

These Japanese fortune-telling papers can bring you great blessings—or a great curse!

Two Big-Name Shrines for Hatsumode

You can't go wrong visiting your local shrine in the first three days of the New Year to pray for a healthy and prosperous year. But if you're going to go out, why not go big?

Visit One of the 4 Largest Temples in Japan!

Located in Otsu City, Miidera Temple is one huge National Treasure!

6 Most-Visited New Year's Shrines & Temples

Check out these statistics to find out which temple or shrine has the largest number of attendees during New Year's—and maybe find out the spots to avoid!

The Biggest Temple You've Never Heard Of

While many regions of Japan are world-renowned for their shrines and temples, sometimes it's the ones you've never heard of that leave the biggest impression.

3 Ways to Get More Out of a Temple Visit

Three can't-miss activities during a Japanese temple or shrine pilgrimage.

4 Japanese Temples & Shrines in Hawaii

Hawaii is home to some stunning Japanese temples and shrines!

5 Temples & Shrines for Design Lovers

These stylish temples and shrines juxtapose the traditional and the modern.

5 Stunning Temple & Shrine Videos

These five videos will instantly transport you to some of the most vivid temples and shrines in Japan!

How to Purify Yourself at a Japanese Shrine

Purify yourself in 15 (not-so-complicated) steps!

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