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Year: 2023

Itsukushima Shrine

Goshuin for Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Jinja 厳島神社 Hiroshima (広島) December 1, 2023 About Itsukushima Shrine I think we’ve all seen it. The photo of the floating torii gate on the water. Images of a shrine surrounded by the sea. That’s Itsukushima Shrine. Itsukushima Shrine is located on the island of Itsukushima, better known as Miyajima, located just off the coast of Hiroshima. As lovers of Japanese history and literature are probably aware, it is also a major location in the Heike Monogatari. This is an old Japanese tale of the fall of the Taira. While he did not build the original shrine, the shrine…

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Matsue Castle Gojoin

Matsue Castle 松江城 Matsue (松江市) November 28, 2023 (Reiwa 5) About Matsue Castle Matsue Castle is one of only 12 original castles remaining in Japan and its main keep is a National Treasure. It was originally completed in 1611. Unlike most castles in Japan, the top part is fully enclosed. I originally thought it had been altered; most castles have a wrap-around balcony you step out onto, but it was built this way due to strong winds and rain in the area My Visit I visited as part of a Japanese sword monitor tour by Oasa Bus. It was a…

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Funadama Shrine Goshuin

Funadama Shrine 船魂神社 Hakodate (函館市) July 26, 2025 (Reiwa 7) About Funadama Shrine A very old shrine in Hakodate, Funadama Shrine enshrines Watatsumi, Shitsuchioji, and Susanoo no Mikoto, all gods associated with water, the sea, and navigation. The shrine is situated up on the slopes leading up to Mt Hakodate, giving a great view of the harbor below. My Visit By the time we got to the shrine, we had marched all over town. We saw the red brick warehouses, the Old Public Hall, the Hakodate Orthodox Church, and more. The area the shrine is in is full of great…

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Myoshin-ji

Myoshin-ji 妙心寺 Kyoto (京都) June 17, 2023 About Myoshin-ji Myoshin-ji is a large temple complex in Kyoto and the head temple for Renzai Zen Buddhism. Most of the buildings aren’t open to the public, but you can enter the quarters (kuri) and the main hall for a fee. The quarters include the gardens, kitchen, storage areas, etc of Buddhist monks and has been used for filming movies here in Japan. The main hall features a huge painting of a dragon in the clouds on the ceiling. No matter where you stand in the room, it seems to be looking at…

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Myoshin-ji – Uryu Goshuin

Myoshin-ji 妙心寺 Kyoto (京都市) June 17, 2023 About Myoshin-ji Myoshin-ji is a large temple complex in Kyoto and the head temple for Renzai Zen Buddhism. Most of the buildings aren’t open to the public, but you can enter the quarters (kuri) and the main hall for a fee. The quarters include the gardens, kitchen, storage areas, etc of Buddhist monks and has been used for filming movies here in Japan. The main hall features a huge painting of a dragon in the clouds on the ceiling. No matter where you stand in the room, it seems to be looking at…

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