Tokyo, Japan: Gotokuji Temple

Gōtokuji Temple

Nagoya, Japan: Yagoto-san Kosho-ji Temple

Yagoto-san Kosho-ji Temple

Is a Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda.  It's a walking distance from the subway station.

Kyoto, Japan: Night viewing at Eikan-do Temple

 

Travel Date: 19 November 2023 

The Autumn night exhibition at Eikan-do Temple runs for a limited time between November and December.  Guide will be posted a few days before the open date. Regular open hours can be seen here. 

2017 May: Japan: Fukuoka: Temples and Shrines in Gion-Hakata Areas

Kushida Shrine
1-41, Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku

2016 July: South Korea: Gyeongju: Bulguksa Temple

Bulguksa Temple [UNESCO World Heritage] (불국사)
Location: 385, Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
경상북도 경주시 불국로 385 (진현동)
www.bulguksa.or.kr
Fee (Adult): 5,000 won 

Accessible by Bus No. 10 or 11 from Gyeongju Intercity / Express Bus Terminal, the trip lasted for almost an hour and with the help of maps.google, I was able to reach the site.   

2014 May: Japan: Kyoto: Mimuroto-ji Temple

Travel Date: May 18, 2014 Sunday 

Location: 

Mimuroto-ji Temple, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0013, Japan

三室戸寺 21 莵道滋賀谷 Uji,

Open: 8:30 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from November to March)

Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time; Admission: 500 yen

http://www.mimurotoji.com/ 

Aside from Umeda in Osaka, there is another option to reach Kyoto.  I took Keihan Line from Yodobashi station to Chusojima.  Then, exchange to Uji line going to Mimurudo station.

In early weeks of May, you'll see full bloom of azaleas in Mimuroto-ji Temple.  It is about 20 minute walk from the station.  

Check if you can see the signage and directions while being covered by the branches.

2012 Nov: Kyoto: Kennin-ji Temple Grounds

Destination: Kennin-ji Temple Grounds
Travel Date: November 30, 2012
Location: Komatsu town down through Article 45, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Yamatooji
Admission Fee: 500 yen
Website: http://www.kenninji.jp/english/

Kenninji is a temple of the Zen sect, one of the main branches of Japanese Buddhism. Buddhism, founded approximately 2,500 years ago in India by Shakyamuni Buddha, teaches that the inherent suffering of life can be transcended through equanimity, wisdom, and compassion. The Zen sect, dating back to sixth-century China, seeks the realization of this ideal through a strict training system stressing work and meditation. At present, there are three branches of Zen in Japan - the Rinzai Soutou and Oubaku schools. Kenninji belongs to the Rinzai tradition. The temple was founded in 1202 by the priest Yousai (1141-1215). [Read more]

2012 Nov: Japan: Kyoto: Gion

Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha (performing artist) district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. [Read more]

2012 Nov: Japan: Kyoto: Kiyomizu

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera]

This will be the last stop for our one-day guided tour.  From the parking lot, it will be a long climb to reach the foot of the temple. Try to visit the area in the morning, because it is too crowded at night.  Some would walk slowly since they are interested to check on the street food, souvenirs, antiques, etc.

2011 February: Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels

Travel Date: February 17, 2011 Destination: Cu Chi Tunnels I thought it was already a good deal, but “my guided tour did not reach my expectation” – this was my initial comment. An old man looked for my name at the hotel reception. We walked about less than 5 minutes to get in to the bus service on the next street. It took us an hour to reach our first stop – it was a factory of wall decorations (with not so clean toilet) – is this what they call “for refreshments”? At 11.45am, we arrived at Cao Dai temple. The guide let us walk for less than 10 minutes since their bus need to park at the parking area. He did not lead us inside the temple. Tourists should remove their slippers/shoes before going to the temple. We are guided to go on the second floor. After 45 minutes and returning to the bus, some of their co-guides were playing cards inside our service and our guide is not attentive to welcome his tourists. Then, along the way, we were notified that there is no lunch provided for the tour – they took us to this very lousy restaurant. I think they could offer more than that. By 2.30pm we finally reached Cu Chi Tunnels. Here, he guided us along the way. He explained all the human traps and how Vietnamese live and try to survived during the war.

I will already tag my day as an average tour not until I saw this very famous and familiar face in front of me. I’ll not convince you to believe me nor I’ll post photos for any evidence, but I saw Piolo at Cu Chi Tunnels that afternoon.