4.5Ise Jingu(2.799 reviews) - YIKES, Super Crowded on January 2 Friday: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM Religious Sites
We were staying in Nagoya and took the 1 hour and 45 minute JR train to Ise. We visited on Thursday, January 2. Took the JR Rapid Mie and the cost was 2520 yen for the round trip. We actually bought the train tickets the day before. Once we arrived in Ise, we visited the Outer Shrine first since it is within walking distance. The Outer Shrine is believed to have been established 1500 years ago, 500 years after the Inner Shrine. Then we took a bus for 310 yen per person to get to the Inner Shrine. That ride took 20 minutes. The Inner Shrine is Japan's most sacred shrine and believed to have been established over 2000 years ago. Entrance is free for both shrines. The only problem we had with visiting on January 2 was that ALL the Japanese people were paying their respects and boy was it crowded. However, it was a Japanese type of crowded and everything was very orderly. I think had it been less crowded, it would have been more peaceful and enjoyable.See more..
4.5Zenko-ji Temple(1.965 reviews) - Zenkoji-temple visit Friday: 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM Religious Sites
We went to Nagano for a day and explored Zenkoji-temple with my child. It's a short around 15-20 min walking from Nagano station. You can walk on site free but if you want to go inside, you need to pay the entrance fee for a reasonable price. The place is still beautiful in all seasons. We went on December 7th and could enjoy some blooming trees in the park.See more..
4.0Atsuta Jingu Shrine(1.758 reviews) - New Kusanagi Sword Museum open! Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Religious Sites
I went to Atsuta-jingu Shrine in December. Many people were there because of end of the year soon. Atsuta-jingu Shrine has a big news recently. New museum and another facility opened recently this year,2021. One of them is Kusanagi Square(Kusanagi Hiroba). There is a shop of famous Kishimen restaurant(noodle shop of famous Nagoya's noodle). And other of them is Kusanagi Museum(Legend Sword Museum) Kusanagi Sword is known for Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Kusanagi Sword is one of three kinds of sacred treasures. Atsuta-jingu Shrine is enshrined the Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi (Sword). So the name of Kusanagi Museum comes from its story.See more..
4.0Myoryuji - Ninja Temple(1.277 reviews) - Pitfalls, traps and tricks! Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Religious Sites
Going through this venue, now a place of quiet contemplation, one wonders of these once powerful people suffered from paranoia. With a home full of tricky removable floor boards and sliding doors, hanging staircases, and so on.... or must've felt good to be safe! See more..
4.0Kinomiya Shrine(805 reviews) - Worth a visit at Kinomiya Shrine if you go to Atami! Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Religious Sites
Worth a visit at Kinomiya Shrine if you go to Atami. Conveniently located and recommend to spend around an hour here. An ancient camphor tree, believed to be 2,000 years old, stands on the ground of this shrine. It is said that when you go around the 24m thick tree one time, your life is extended by one year!See more..
4.5Ise Shrine Geku(797 reviews) - Geku is the Outer Shrine and much more accessible Historic Walking Areas • Religious Sites
The Outer Shrine is usually visited before the Inner Shrine. If you are arriving by train, Geku, or the Outer Shrine is within walking distance. We actually had to take a bus for the 20 minute ride to get to the Inner Shrine. Like the Inner Shrine, the Outer Shrine is rebuilt every 20 years. It is believed to have been established over 1500 years ago, 500 years after the Inner Shrine. We came on January 2 and it was super crowded because all the Japanese people were paying their respects.See more..
4.0Oyama Shrine(678 reviews) - A quiet and nice shrine! Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Historic Sites • Religious Sites
The unique entry gate for which this 1599 shrine is famous was originally part of Kanazawa Caste.See more..
4.5Daihonzan Eihei-ji Temple(641 reviews) - Eiheiji Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites
Eiheiji is Japan's largest Zen monastery. Very interesting history, and interesting walk around the grounds with traditional architecture against a Japanese forest background. You can see Zen Buddhist monks going about their business, and watch authentic ceremonies being performed. Since it is a working monastery, there are rules against photographing the monks, and visitors must remove their shoes. The road up to the temple has many touristy shops and places to eat/drink. It is also worth walking in the area around the outside of the temple, which has small shrines, many interesting statues, and a beautiful stream. Worth visiting in any season.See more..
4.5Togakushi Shrine Okusha(631 reviews) - A wonderful autumn walk in the mountains Religious Sites
It was so good to get out of Tokyo into the mountains near Nagano. I got the bus for an hour to the top shrine walk and then did all the shrines and the beautiful lake walk. It was magical. Lovely autumn colours, great walking, stunning views. It's a must do. Best thing I did in Japan!See more..
4.0Kunozan Toshogu Shrine(583 reviews) - Beautiful Shrine Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Religious Sites
You’ll have to take the ropeway to get there and back - no other way in or out. The main temple itself is quite beautiful - be sure to seek out the wood carvings along the exterior fencing - along with a few smaller adjacent shrines. The steps are high and it takes some energy to get there. Meanwhile, the older Japanese are scrambling up and down. It’s an interesting place to visit if you like temples and shrines. This particular one is to a smaller “sect” within Buddhism and reminded us of the temple at Nikko near Narita. This one is smaller but still quite attractive.See more..
4.5Stone Church(494 reviews) - Architectural wonder Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Religious Sites • Monuments & Statues
It was NOT walkable in the snow at all! We took the advice of the lady in the Tourist office at the station and got a cab there for 1000 yen. Thereafter discovered that the Hoshino Resort area had a free shuttle to & from Karuizawa station so we hustled to get that free ride back based on the bus schedule. Worth the trip! See more..
4.5Suwa Shrine(462 reviews) - Seemingly in harmony with the grand, towering trees that surround it Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites
We enjoyed this shrine very much, tranquilly located on the edge of a forest and seemingly in harmony with the grand, towering trees that surround it. It is hard to appreciate Shinto shrines if you are not Japanese, or don't have a cultural and aesthetic understanding of their meaning, architecture and significance. But this one is just naturally attractive even if, like us, you have little understanding of what you are looking at. So much beautiful wood in the construction, and a pleasing absence of the signage that seems ubiquitous at many such places and that so badly mars the aesthetics. Easy to get to by car, with free parking available nearby. Not sure how to go about getting here by public transport.See more..
It took us 20 min walk from train station to the location and another 400 steps to reach the top. About mid-way, there was a food truck selling drinks and ice-cream. It had stunning view of Mt. Fuji and the Shrine.See more..
