Temples (��, tera) are the places of worship in Japanese Buddhism. Virtually every Japanese municipality has at least one temple, while large cultural centers like Kyoto have hundreds.
Temples store and display sacred Buddhist objects. Some temples used to be monasteries, and some still function as such. Structures typically found at Japanese temples are:
Main hallExample: Main hall of Todaiji in Nara The sacred objects of worship, such as statues, are displayed in the main hall. Depending on the sect and temple, the main hall is called kondo, hondo, butsuden, amidado or hatto in Japanese.
Lecture hallExample: Lecture hall of Toji in Kyoto Lecture halls are for meetings and lectures and often also display objects of worship. Lecture halls are called kodo.
PagodaExample: 3-storied pagoda of Kofukuji in Nara The pagoda, a structure that has evolved from the Indian stupa, usually comes with three (sanju no to) or five (goju no to) stories. Pagodas store remains of the Buddha such as a tooth, usually in the form of a representation.
GatesExample: Sanmon Gate of Kenchoji in Kamakura Gates mark the entrance to the temple grounds. There is usually one main gate, and possibly several additional gates, along the temple's main approach.
BellExample: Great Bell of Kenchoji in Kamakura On New Year's Eve, temple bells are rung 108 times, corresponding to the Buddhist concept of 108 worldly desires.
Cemetery Most cemeteries in Japan are Buddhist and are located at temples. The Japanese visit their ancestors' graves on many occasions during the year, especially during the obon week, the equinoctial weeks and anniversaries.
The best cities to visit temples are Kyoto, Nara and Kamakura. One of the best places to overnight at temples is Mount Koya.
1 Temple Osorezan••• Sacred mountain resembling Buddhist hell. 4.6★★★★★102
2 Temple Kiyomizudera••• Temple famous for its large wooden terrace. 4.6★★★★★4,382
3 Temple Todaiji Temple••• Large temple with a big Buddha statue. 4.5★★★★★3,669
4 Temple Kinkakuji••• Temple building covered in gold. 4.4★★★★★4,736
5 Temple Ginkakuji••• Beautiful temple not actually covered in silver. 4.1★★★★★3,443
6 Temple Okunoin Temple•• Temple where Kobo Daishi is enshrined. 4.5★★★★★639
7 Yamadera•• Scenic temple on a steep mountainside. 4.5★★★★★421
8 Temple Hasedera Temple•• Large temple complex on a hillside location. 4.3★★★★★159
9 Temple Kokedera•• Called moss temple because of its garden. 4.2★★★★★415
10 Temple Horyuji Temple•• The world's oldest wooden buildings. 4.2★★★★★1,549
11 Temple Great Buddha•• Large bronze Buddha Statue. 4.2★★★★★2,904
12 Temple Byodoin Temple•• Temple with a beautiful Pure Land Garden. 4.1★★★★★1,250
13 Temple Nanzenji Temple•• Zen temple with beautiful stone garden. 3.9★★★★★1,362
14 Temple Ninnaji Temple•• Temple turned former imperial residence. 3.8★★★★★941
15 Temple Muroji Temple• Remote temple surrounded by forest. 4.2★★★★★95
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