Japan

On the one hand, Kyoto is a modern big city with plenty of architectual dreadfulness, on the other hand... it has been the spiritual center of Japanese culture until this day. Those who take their time, can explore a variety of romantic sites besides the well-known and very touristic main attractions. The oldest sacred building is Koryu-ji built in 622, whose museum houses wonderful statues. One can get a marvelous view of the city from the terrace of the Kiyomizu Temple. The Zen garden of Ryoan-ji impresses with its simplicity pushed to the limits. The Sanju-sangendo, a 118 m (387 ft) wooden temple hall, gives an insight into the art of the Kamakura period, comparable to gothic art. In there, 1001 statues of Kannon - the God of Mercy, are displayed. Kyoto's most famous and most popular shrine festival Gion Matsuri is celebrated from July 14th -17th at the Yasaka Shrine, which is also called Gion Shrine after the old geisha district. Other important festivals in Kyoto are the Aoi Matsuri („Hollyhock festival“) on May 15th and the Jidai Matsuri („Festival of the Times“) on October 22nd, both celebrated with colorful costume processions. more

The 30-km² (11.6 mi²) big „shrine island“, also known as Itsukushima, is located about 2 km (1.2... mi.) off the coast of Hiroshima and can be reached via ferry through the idyllic inland-sea. The main sanctuary, whose buildings today descended from the 16th century, are dedicated to the deities of the sea. One of the most famous and photographed objects of Japan is the mighty red, wooden Torii, which rises from the waters from a short distance. All shrines have ports like these symbolizing the passage from the profane into the sacred sphere. The red-lacquered main buildings connected through corridors, rest on platforms supported by pillars. This is why the ensemble appears to be floating on water during floods. If visitors are lucky, they can experience a performance of the old, courtly Bugaku dances to the sounds of medieval Gagaku music. more

Multiple sanctuaries of the old Nara belong to the UNESCO world heritage site for a good reason, among... them Kofuku-ji, which once consisted of 175 buildings. Pagodas and a treasure house mirror a litte of the former glamour. Thousands of stone and bronze lanterns are the landmarks of the Kasuga Shrine in the east of Nara park, where deer dedicated to shrine deities run free. The highlight of the visit is the Todai-ji founded in 745, into which the enormous two-story Nandai-mon („Big Southern port“) leads. One of the biggest wooden structures in the world is the 16.2 m (53 ft) tall bronze Buddha of Japan. Cast in 749 single pieces, it presented a bold technical undertaking back then. more