Temple[ Tera ]

Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples in Japan are considered among the most numerous, famous and important religious buildings. The Japanese word for a Buddhist temple is tera (寺), and the same kanji also has the pronunciation ji, so temple names often end with -ji or -dera. There is also another ending, -in (院, normally used for minor temples). Famous temples as Enryaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kōtoku-in illustrate the naming patterns.

from Buddhist_temples_in_Japan (Wikipedia) CC BY SA 3.0

Advice about Tera (Temple)

Advanced Search
Kawagoe, Saitama - so near, yet so far away…in time images

Kawagoe, Saitama - so near, yet so far away…in time

Many people, whether visiting Japan or residing here, long to experience the traditional side of this fascinating culture. They want to walk the streets as the samurai once did.But whether due to time or other factors, the prospect of a trip to Kyoto may be difficult. Even a visit to Nikko - th…(542 words)

GoodPeople image

GoodPeople

Ginkgo Biloba, Get Ready for a Gold Tokyo! images

Ginkgo Biloba, Get Ready for a Gold Tokyo!

I live in the city of Shinagawa and on my way to Shinagawa JR train station, I walk along the properly spaced and placed trees along the main road along the JR train tracks. The tree I am describing is titled Ginkgo Biloba or at times it is known by maidenhair tree. According to Wikipedia, “Gin…(541 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 4) images

Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 4)

One figure stands out among the line of Samurai statues standing quietly behind protective glass in the Sengakuji Temple Museum. It was chilly in the stark room but the items behind the glass caught my heart and instilled a warmth of pride even though I am not Japanese and I don't really know the f…(995 words)

 image

How to Spend a Rainy Day, Local Style (Top 5 Recommendations) images

How to Spend a Rainy Day, Local Style (Top 5 Recommendations)

In Japan, June is the Monsoon season. Many of the days are very moist and humid. Therefore, it’s good to know ways to have fun in Japan, even on a humid or rainy day. Here are my top 5 recommendations!HANWAY(ハンウェイ)1. Why not purchase a fancy Umbrella?@Roppongi HANWAYThe…(263 words)

Eddie image

Eddie

Today I went to Tokushima on Shikoku Island Japan images

Today I went to Tokushima on Shikoku Island Japan

This place was the Awa Han (Awa Clan), across the mountains from Kochi, where Ryoma Sakamoto began his effort to forge a new future for Japan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv3hU-oBTT8I spotted the dancers as soon as the escalator neared the first floor of the newly opened airport terminal…(737 words)

 image

Hiking in Japan images

Hiking in Japan

Hakone HikingJapan`s natural beauty and geoplogical gifts are sometimes overlooked because of the cultural and historical treasures this country has. Hakone is blessed with both and has many hiking trails that allow visitors to get in touch with nature, get active, explore, and enjoy great view…(492 words)

Kintaro-man image

Kintaro-man

Asago Wellness and Fitness Tourism images

Asago Wellness and Fitness Tourism

Once upon a time, Asago was a feudal era battlefield. With Takeda Castle, seeming to float among the clouds, it is a very mysterious place. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu all vied to conquer Japan, and saw the importance of maintaining control of this area. Tajima, Harima, an…(914 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

Kyoto travel tips - spend a day exploring Japan’s old capital images

Kyoto travel tips - spend a day exploring Japan’s old capital

Kiyomizu-dera & Jishu Shrine“Kiyomizu-dera is a beautiful temple in Kyoto up on the hills, with a view over the city. The temple grounds are a nice place to walk around and look at the many halls, gates, and pagodas from different angles... Make sure to walk around the different buildings and g…(399 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

Enjoy the winding road of Nikko, Irohazaka. One of Japan's lovely roads in a perfect getaway outside of Tokyo. images

Enjoy the winding road of Nikko, Irohazaka. One of Japan's lovely roads in a perfect getaway outside of Tokyo.

Iroha-zaka in Nikko is very famous in Japan for beautiful views of changing colours in Autumn. It is the perfect Autumn drive. Iroha-zaka is a hill which takes about 30 minutes (1.5 hours in the autumn due to traffic) to drive up. Views are spectacular along the way and a beautiful lake awaits at t…(100 words)

GenS image

GenS

Buddhism experience in Japan images

Buddhism experience in Japan

The way of the warrior may not be easy to experience, but Buddhism and traditional Japanese religion is an insight into the power and culture of the warrior spirit.I experienced a few hours of Zazen meditation practice and a traditional Buddhist vegan lunch in the Setoda-cho area of Onomichi, H…(158 words)

jjwalsh image

jjwalsh

Water, Water, and many drops to drink images

Water, Water, and many drops to drink

Omizu (mizu if you're not using the honorific "O") is the Japanese word for water. If you're visiting Japan you can be assured that the water from taps is safe to drink wherever you're visiting. However, if you really insist on paying 100 to 200 yen for a bottle of water you'll find plenty of brand…(279 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

First Visit for the New Year - Hatsumode images

First Visit for the New Year - Hatsumode

Many Japanese people visit shrines and temples during the first days of the year. It is a way to start into the new year. The new year starts at midnight, so people line up already in the evening of December 31. At the big popular places like Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa or Meijijingu in Harajuku it …(161 words)

David image

David

New Years images

New Years

New Years is a family event so there are not many tours or much excitement surrounding the new year like there is in the US. My family makes mochi and then we head to Kiyoshikojin Temple (http://www.kiyoshikojin.or.jp/en/) for hatsumode (first temple visit of the year) early in the morning. Som…(103 words)

Jeff Aasgaard image

Jeff Aasgaard

Asakusa's Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street in the Evening images

Asakusa's Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street in the Evening

Many tourists visit Asakusa and the Senso-ji temple during the day and it gets quiet in the evening. As one of the major tourist attractions in Tokyo, it is usually quite crowded here, but by the time the shops close in Nakamise-dori between 18:00 and 19:00 most visitors leave. At night, the temple…(194 words)

David image

David

Kamakura: there is a reason why! images

Kamakura: there is a reason why!

If you like both, Kamakura is a sure spot. There are many beautiful places in Kamakura and it is tough to sort them out and make choices. But if you like to take your time, try to go on a week day, and visit the Great Buddha, Hase tera and Gorakuji.Well, this is the ABC of basics but there …(391 words)

Claire image

Claire

Mt. Fuji Station #5 (Fuji Subaru Line) images

Mt. Fuji Station #5 (Fuji Subaru Line)

Mt. Fuji, as most of us know, is the highest peak in Japan, standing at 3,776 m (12,388 ft) and it is a very popular tourist destination, with an estimated 320,000 climbers scaling the mountain during the two month summer season (from July 1st to August 31st) annually. The mountain's new new statu…(547 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Kamakura: the hydrangeas of Hasedera images

Kamakura: the hydrangeas of Hasedera

June is really probably not one of the best times to be in Japan. Endless days of rain, laundry that doesn't really dry, excursions cut short because of squalls...However the plentiful watering does bring one positive event with it: the riotous blooming of hydrangeas. An attractive weed, they g…(200 words)

Chiara image

Chiara

The Plum Season! images

The Plum Season!

June and July is the season of the "plum rain" in Japan. The start of the season is much expected and advertised by the weather report. The plum rain front has reached Okinawa... they say with a very dark voice. And suddenly, it pours cats and dogs in Tokyo. There is no plum-rain in Hokkaido. W…(646 words)

Claire image

Claire

Hydrangea's in Japan - Ajisai images

Hydrangea's in Japan - Ajisai

Japan is a country of multiple seasons and for every season there are a different set of flowers that are blooming. At this very time of year, the Hydrangea's are blooming. In Japanese, hydrangea's are called Ajisai. You can go to virtually any park, temple or residential neighborhood and find h…(130 words)

Kevin image

Kevin

Drop-in Yoga Workshop at Temples in Tokyo images

Drop-in Yoga Workshop at Temples in Tokyo

The following links (I believe their sites are all in Japanese....)are temples in Tokyo area, where they do provide a yoga workshop:@"Kongoin," Toshima-ku every Mon.(10am-) and Wed.(7:30pm-) starting from Aug 4 and 6豊島区 金剛院(8月4日~、6日~開講)※毎週月曜日、水曜日開催詳しくは:h…(249 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

Do you like Ukiyoe ? A day tour with Ukiyoe prints with a Japanese bilingual guid! images

Do you like Ukiyoe ? A day tour with Ukiyoe prints with a Japanese bilingual guid!

10:00 am Gather at KataseEnoshima Station of the Odakyu Enoshima Line. ▶Walk to Enoshima Shrine. ▶Have Japanese Sweet then lunch at Restaurant. ▶Explore …(62 words)

sushiyanotsuma image

sushiyanotsuma

Torinoichi (or Otorisama) images

Torinoichi (or Otorisama)

Torinoichi is held at Ohtori Shrine and Chokokuji Temple, next to each other. This year (2014), the event is on November 10 and 22. As people buy a little bigger Kumade, called Kakkome, every year, the Kumade is going to be huge. It is interesting that this festival starts at midnight (0:00) and en…(98 words)

Keiko, OTT image

Keiko, OTT

Kanagawa Government Office: “King” a Great National Historical Building to See images

Kanagawa Government Office: “King” a Great National Historical Building to See

One of my absolute favorite places in Yokohama is the Kanagawa Prefecture Headquarters, called “Kanagawa Ken Hon-cho”. Until air travel allowed visitors to come via airports, Yokohama was Japan’s front door to the world. Officials wanted this building to have a view of the ocean and to showcase Jap…(822 words)

 image

Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 3) images

Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 3)

A quick read-up on the story of the 47 Ronin who avenged their Lord will give the pertinent details on how the plan was executed and how the Ronin successfully found and exacted revenge on Kira Yoshinaka one snowy morning in Tokyo. He desperately begged for mercy from the Ako Clan members and was u…(1225 words)

 image

How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately.... images

How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately....

Well, you may be a bit disappointed. But these days, more and more family stay away from home for the New Year's days. As you may know, New Year's Days is much more important than Christmas (or Hanuka or whatever you call "happy holiday") holiday season. Everybody takes at least these three-day …(397 words)

KIH image

KIH

Town of Shibamata a blast from the past images

Town of Shibamata a blast from the past

Shibamata, Tokyo is a throwback to the Showa Era, enjoy the architecture and taste the rare traditional treats. Shibamata gained fame as the main setting for the movie series "Otoko wa Tsurai Yo" (It's Tough Being a Man). The lead character, Tora-san, embodies many traditional values, such as frien…(110 words)

Aron image

Aron

Three things to complete your Kawagoe day trip images

Three things to complete your Kawagoe day trip

Visiting the religious place is sometimes hard.... especially that religion is not of yours and not easy to understand. And also for children.I visited too many temples and shrines in my life. So even I feel get confused of them unless I mean to visit there on purpose. However....these place…(337 words)

Zara image

Zara

July Events in Asakusa and Ueno images

July Events in Asakusa and Ueno

Asagao means Morning Glory. Iriya Asagao Ichi is held at and around Iriya Kishimojin Temple. This event is held on 6, 7 and 8 July every year. This year, the street (Kototoi Dori) will be closed from 17:00 to 21:30 on these days. Time and Place:6, 7 and 8 July at Iriya Kishimojinone minut…(222 words)

Keiko, OTT image

Keiko, OTT

INTERVIEW 2: How did you get to Japan? images

INTERVIEW 2: How did you get to Japan?

For those of you who are considering coming to Japan and are looking for ideas or inspiration from the path others have taken to find work and live here, read on for a short interview with a good friend of mine; Russell, from Australia.JB: We've know each other a long long time Russell, from we…(1240 words)

GoodPeople image

GoodPeople

View from my office, abandoned castle ruin of 11th century images

View from my office, abandoned castle ruin of 11th century

There is a small hill in front of my office and at the base of the hill, I can see old monument by the road that nobody notices. Writing in the monument is hard to read due to wear and tear except the name of the place that says "Ruin of Shidu Castle". There used to be a small castle on top o…(143 words)

kazmcqueen image

kazmcqueen

Observe a 97 meter waterfall up close and in person images

Observe a 97 meter waterfall up close and in person

Nikko is only about two hours away from Tokyo by train, but the contrast couldn’t be me stark. Tokyo is crowded with buildings, but Nikko is abundant with nature. There is also a sacred atmosphere in Nikko as it is home to many temples and shrines, including the well known Nikko Toshogu shrine.…(285 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

The trip has completely changed my impression of Nara. images

The trip has completely changed my impression of Nara.

When thinking about Japan's "Nara", just about everyone thinks about the famous deer and the great Buddha. It's too bad, because most visitors come to Nara only occasionally. If you stay in Nara for 1 or 2 days, you are sure to find there are several beautiful locations that are worth sightseeing…(1174 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

Nikko – breathtaking shrines, temples, and landscape images

Nikko – breathtaking shrines, temples, and landscape

5 things to do in Nikko“Nikko is one of the most historically significant cities in Japan, situated between the mountains of north Tokyo. The city is located in very close proximity to the Nikko National Park, which offers great views of the mountain peaks, as well as numerous waterfalls and ho…(466 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

Nagareyama and the Shinsengumi images

Nagareyama and the Shinsengumi

The Shinsengumi were a group of swordsmen established by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1863. Formed as a special police force to maintain order in the streets of Kyoto, the group later fought for the shogunate against the Meiji government's anti-shogunate forces. They were originally known as the Roshi…(479 words)

CHIBA-KUN image

CHIBA-KUN

How to enjoy New Years in Japan. images

How to enjoy New Years in Japan.

This is an interesting subject, which is actually difficult to answer as there are many ways to enjoy New Year's in Japan. I'll try to tackle this one and give you a few options.Option one: New Years Eve Party!! During this time of the year, there are parties and events everywhere (Roppongi, Gi…(328 words)

DjMarvin image

DjMarvin

Mochi-tsuki events images

Mochi-tsuki events

The rice cake making is carried out in a shrine,temple and a martial arts school, local community from about Decenber20 through around January 15.However, it is not often performed on December 29. This is because there is the jinx that a Japanese avoids a day to arrive of 4 and 9.Most of th…(121 words)

FRITZ image

FRITZ

2 bows, 2 claps and 1 bow in a shrine images

2 bows, 2 claps and 1 bow in a shrine

In a shrine "2 bows, 2 claps and 1 bow" is the traditional procedure. 1. Ring the bell and throw coin(s) in2. 2 bows3. 2 claps4. keep putting your palms together, closing your eyes and pray5. Open eyes and 1 bow(35 words)

juninada image

juninada

bowing is showing your respects at a temple or shrine images

bowing is showing your respects at a temple or shrine

I was asked my friend from Europe what are manners at Shrine and Temple. Shrine is Shinto(Japanese original religion) and temple is Buddhist.I was taught from my grandmother when I go to Shinto shrine, crap my hands and call god , bow and you pray your wishes.When I go to Temple, I don't cra…(65 words)

yukorose image

yukorose

It is costly, but it is worth while paying. images

It is costly, but it is worth while paying.

(Places) I know two places. One is in ASAKUSA in Tokyo and the other is in Yokohama China Town.In front of the main gate of SENSOUJI (famous temple), there are some waiting Rickshaws.In Yokohama Chaina town, near Kaseiro Restaurant located in main street (HONDOURI) is one of the placeses to ca…(152 words)

Suetsumuhana image

Suetsumuhana

Asakusa images

Asakusa

You can find Japanese traditional souvenir at the street in front of Temple sensou-ji. There are a lot of souvenir shops located .(22 words)

Emyuuu image

Emyuuu