Japan boasts two major religions; Shinto and Buddhism, who both have an impressive array of temples, shrines and monuments stamped across the country. From modern, polished structures to traditional, wooden edifices, they have offered great locations for many adventurous day trips.
Some places we visited date back over one thousand years, but more often than not the original constructions have been ravaged by fire, then dutifully rebuilt only to go up in flames again, and so the cycle continues. This is all understandable given they’re always made of wood and incense continually burns in the holy halls, enveloping them in a sweet aroma.
These places have stunning collections of statues and icons from fifteen metre bronze Buddha to inch-high stone Jizo, who help guide lost souls to the afterlife. "Seen one temple seen them all" definitely doesn’t apply here!
