35 articles to prepare your trip
Yamadera
A Buddhist temple founded in 860 on a mountainside near Yamagata, Yamadera rewards visitors with 1,000 steps leading to pavilions clinging to the cliff face.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Tōdai-ji in Nara houses the Daibutsu-den, the world's largest wooden structure, and a monumental bronze statue of Buddha Vairocana.
For nearly seven centuries, the shogunate or Bakufu governed Japan. History, sites to visit and tips for following in the footsteps of the shoguns.
Temple Rinno
Founded in 766 at the foot of Mount Nantai, Rinno-ji houses three monumental golden Buddhas and the mausoleum of shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Founded in 738, Osenji Temple overlooks the thermal village of Kinosaki Onsen from Mount Daishi and preserves the spiritual memory of the seven hot springs.
A 3,026 m peak in Japan's Northern Alps, Mount Norikura is reached by bus from Tatami-daira: hiking, skiing, snow wall and hot springs await.
Nachi Taisha
On the slopes of Mount Nachi, the Shinto shrine Nachi Taisha and the temple Seiganto-ji stand facing a sacred waterfall of 130 meters, a station on the Kumano Kodo.
Mont Kōya
A UNESCO-listed Shingon monastic city, Mount Kōya offers temples, the forested Okuno-in cemetery and nights in shukubō, 2.5 hours from Osaka.
Northeast of Kyoto, Mount Hiei is home to Enryaku-ji, the birthplace of Tendai Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage site, nestled among forests, ancient trails and panoramic views of Lake Biwa.
Kongobu
Administrative center of the Shingon Buddhist school at Mount Kōya, Kongōbu-ji is home to the Banryū-tei, Japan's largest dry garden, and UNESCO-listed heritage.
Nestled against the Higashiyama hills, Kiyomizu-dera overlooks Kyoto from its wooden terrace built without nails. History, sites to see and visiting advice.
Between Nagano and Gifu, Kiso Valley preserves the post towns of the Nakasendo route (Magome, Tsumago, Narai) and one of Japan's most beautiful historic hikes.
A Zen temple covered in gold leaf in north-west Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji combines unique architecture, strolling gardens and a turbulent history.
Le Temple Hase
Perched above Kamakura, Hase-dera Temple houses a 9.18-meter Kannon statue, a carved cave, and sweeping views over the bay.
A Zen temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, Ginkaku-ji embodies the wabi-sabi aesthetic through its wooden pavilion and landscaped gardens.
Temple Engyo
Tenth-century Buddhist temple perched on Mount Shosha in Himeji, a stage on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage and backdrop for The Last Samurai.
Temple Eihei
30 minutes from Fukui, Eihei-ji is one of two seats of Japanese Soto Zen: 70 buildings nestled in an ancient cedar forest with zazen initiation programs.
Dewa Sanzan
Three sacred mountains south of Tsuruoka: Haguro, Gassan and Yudono, a major centre of Shugendo, blending a national treasure pagoda, shrines and high-altitude hikes.
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