Sanzen-in Temple
When Dengyo Daishi established Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei, he set up his hut in Toto Minamidani, which is believed to be the beginning of Sanzen-in, one of the three Monzeki temples in Tendai Sect. In Monzeki temple, a member of the imperial family was the priest.
The whole garden is covered in lush green moss, which really lifts your spirits and makes you feel refreshed.
Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum
Built in November 2001 in a residential area of Higashi-Osaka City, adjacent to Shiba Ryotaro's actual residence, the building was designed by Tadao Ando and consists of a single concrete structure.
The most eye-catching thing inside the memorial is the three-story bookshelf. It's so relaxing to sit there, sip coffee, and quietly enjoy the 'golden house' within the books.
Omi Shrine
The Omi Shrine is located on the site of the Omi Otsu no Miya Palace, which was the capital of Japan for five years from 667. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji, the 38th Emperor of Japan, who was involved in the Taika Reform as Naka no Oe no Oji Prince and moved the capital from Asuka in Nara to Otsu in Omi.
The various ancient time-measuring instruments are really interesting.
Uzu-no-Michi Walkway
Uzu no Michi is a 450-meter walkway above the sea, directly beneath the Onaruto Bridge. From a height of 45 meters above the sea, peer through glass floors to see the whirling tides of the Naruto Channel, one of the three fastest whirlpools in the world. In the spring and fall, the whirling tides of Naruto can reach a maximum diameter of 20 meters, said to be the world’s largest!
Even though I didn't catch the tides at the right time, looking down from above was already super impressive.
Kamigamo Shrine (Kamowakeikazuchi Shrine)
In ancient times, Kamowakeikazuchi-no-okami, the god of the shrine, descended to the mountain northwest of the main shrine, and the Kamo clan, a powerful local family, built a shrine building in 678, and it is the oldest shrine in Kyoto.
Along with Matsuo Taisha and Fushimi Inari Shrine, this is one of Kyoto's three oldest shrines, with over 2,000 years of history. There are more than thirty ancient buildings, creating a simple and elegant atmosphere.
Senjojiki (Wakayama Prefecture)
Senjojiki is a large, tiered rock formation that appears as if a thousand tatami mats are spread out. Senjojiki was named because there is enough space for a thousand (sen in Japanese) of tatami mats (jo, a unit for tatami in Japanese).
Be extra careful when walking down—the rocks are really slippery and there are lots of little puddles everywhere.
Honpukuji Water Temple
This temple is of the Omuro school of the Shingong sect of Buddhism, and it is said to have been built in the latter half of the Heian period (794-1185). Located atop a small hill, visitors can look out over Osaka Bay from the temple’s grounds.
It doesn't feel like a temple at all. Honestly, it feels more like a museum.