Shoren-in（青蓮院）
A historic Tendai temple in Kyoto with two famous gardens and imperial heritage A Kyoto temple of imperial heritage and two historic gardens Shōren-in stands among the five Monzeki temples in Kyoto. These temples traditionally appoint head priests from the imperial family. It belongs to the Tendai sect, one of Japan’s oldest schools of Buddhism. […]
Shisen-do（詩仙堂）
A Poet’s Retreat in the Hills of Kyoto Shisen-dō (詩仙堂), nestled in the northern hills of Kyoto, offers a peaceful escape shaped by poetry and nature. Built in 1641 as a retirement villa by Ishikawa Jōzan—a poet, calligrapher, and former samurai—this site later became a Sōtō Zen temple. Today, it remains a beloved destination for […]
Amida-dō Byōdō-in (Phoenix Hall)（平等院 鳳凰堂）
A Heian-Period Temple of Pure Land Buddhism Amida-dō Byōdō-in (Phoenix Hall)（平等院 鳳凰堂）is one of the most iconic examples of Buddhist temple architecture in Japan. Located near Kyoto city, Byōdō-in was originally constructed in 998 during the Heian period (794–1192) as a residence for Minamoto no Tōru. In 1052, the estate was converted into a Buddhist […]