Japan is home to tens of thousands of temples and shrines. Each one offers its own unique art and history that is worth visiting in any area of Japan. While I(Chanda) wasn’t able to see as many as I would have liked to, I was able to visit some of the more famous ones when I visited the Kansai region with two of my friends.
The first temple we went to was Tōdai-ji Temple (東大寺) in Nara. However, before we could reach the temple, we were greeted by many eager deer that were happy to walk alongside us, searching for food. These deer are very used to humans and are friendly and sweet, so you can stop to pet them and give them a little food. You can purchase food from one of the many vendors along the way to the temple.
When we arrived at the temple, I couldn’t help but feel awe. There was no trace of the modern world, and it looked like we had been transported in time. I couldn’t hear any noise besides what was on the temple grounds. Thankfully, the other visitors were quiet and did not disrupt the atmosphere. Before you go into the temple, it is customary to wash your hands at the small spring. There is a small ladle that you can use to pour water over your hands, but please don’t drink it or pour it over your head. It’s disrespectful and unhygienic.
Afterward, we decided to walk a little further away from the crowds and we found a shrine. I don’t remember what it was called or if it was connected to the temple, but there was a shrine gate with a path that led up the mountain. We saw a few more deer along the way and very few people. It was beautiful and easy to walk around without the crowds. There was also a resting area inside with fans, which we desperately needed to cool down.
The next day we ventured to Kyoto to the Monkey Park. I didn’t expect to see a shrine at the base of the mountain, but I was glad that I had an unexpected opportunity to see another sacred place. Ichitani Munakata Shrine (櫟谷宗像神社) is a small shrine that is worth seeing. There were many people climbing the mountain to see the monkeys, but no one was stopping to visit the shrine, so it was empty. We couldn’t go into the shrine itself because the gates were closed, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying some peace and quiet on the shrine grounds.
Later in the day, we ventured to Tenryū-ji Temple (天龍寺). This temple is right beside the bamboo forest, so we couldn’t pass by without stopping for a bit. We stayed a little longer than we had anticipated, a few hours, but there were so many different things to see that it was difficult to leave. The gardens are extensive, and there are various pathways that you can walk on without being bothered by other visitors. There are many buildings and walkways leading between them that I couldn’t resist walking on.
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社) is another famous shrine in Kyoto. We didn’t enjoy this one as much because it was so hot that we were literally running underneath the shade whenever we had the chance, but this shrine was gorgeous. It was very crowded and a little difficult to see some parts of the shrine without people standing in the way, but it was still worth it to go.
We walked a little further, and that is when we stumbled upon the best rickshaw driver ever! Not only did he give us a rickshaw ride, but he also told us about the history of the area. He gave us a break from walking and an unexpected guided tour.
That ride led us to the last temple that we visited, Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺). Because the temple was under construction, we couldn’t go through certain areas, but there was still so much to see. There were various-sized Buddha statues lining various pathways and plenty of shade from the sun, which we were grateful for. The most interesting part of this temple is the spring that is said to offer health, longevity, and success in studies to those who drink from it. There were many people lined up that wanted to drink from the spring and touch the water, but it was too hot for us to want to wait for our chance, so we left.
The sacred sites in Japan are a piece of history that I felt lucky to see in person. Each site tells the story of Japan and its people and shares its history with those who visit.
Manda's Wanderland 
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