There is a magical buzz that I see people get when they learn to appreciate something new. I have been lucky enough in my life to experience it, and it brings me even more joy when I see others get that feeling too. I have been a student of Japanese history and art both officially (in school) and not (by my self) for over a decade now, and while I have enjoyed learning about Japan through my travels, I love teaching others what I have learned even more. It is my hope that people will learn more about Japan than just what they read in pamphlets or fliers. There’s so much more in this country to see and discover, but most, through no fault of their own, don’t know it’s out there waiting to be found. Temples and shrines are virtually everywhere from the largest of complexes to houses of worships barely larger than a shopping bag. Some locations are really only important to locals, and some demand respect from continents away. This website is not only a documentation of my travels, but also a look at how no matter the size or popularity, the temples and shrines of Japan are not only monuments of faith, but also markers of history and the people of note who have interracted with them.

How will I rate each location??

The locations and sites which I will write about will be those that I have visited personally and will advise how important or intriguing they might be to potential visitors. Some places are important cultural sites because they have been visited by major figures throughout history, but that does not always guarantee: #1 that the site is in any way a visual masterpiece and #2 that the casual viewer should care if they don't know anything about the associated major figures. However, for those who have studied at least basic Japanese history or art, I hope that you can use this to connect what you have read to what you can experience. For this reason I will be giving each location a scrore out of 10, at least to help illustrate on a basic level my thoughts and feelings about each location. Because of what I said before, each location has a grading for “casual” viewers and “educated” viewers. In my definition, a “casual” viewer is looking for a place to have an experience; i.e. see a particular view, see unique architecture, or experience a specific vibe. An “educated” viewer, in my terms, is someone who is looking for things beyond the obvious; a notable example of period architecture, close interactions with historical figures, or hosts of famous documents. Please understand that it is never my intention to infer a preference based on subjective metrics like official education level. It is my hope that everyone, regardless of background, will seek out these amazing locations, enjoy them for what they are, and walk away with that magical feeling of experiencing something special. Please use both rankings to help gauage what interest level you might have.

For general information regarding temples and shrines, please visit the introduction posts in both sections to learn about visitor behavior, characteristics, and common features. Important or well known sites like castles, palaces, ruins, and monuments have been put in the ‘Other’ section of the blog. Please read the introduction post regarding my thoughts to the locations I will write about in that section. There are two methods to navigate the site: the first is to go to the Shrines, Temples, or Others tab where you can read my latest posts on each subject, and the second is to look up a specific location by clicking on the links below. The sites listed on this website will mostly be from the Kanto and Kansai regions, where the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara can be found. I will be updating my information based on new research and new locations I have visited with every trip.

よろしくおねがいします。