Art, Culture & History

Onsenji Temple

Art, Culture & HistoryKinosaki Onsen

The guardian temple of Kinosaki's hot springs. The main building is located midway up Mt. Daishi and houses the rare and sacred 11-headed Kannon Bodhisattva, a designated national treasure. In the days of old, visitors would be re……

Kinosaki Coastal Area

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiKinosaki OnsenTakeno

There are two beaches near to Kinosaki which can be easily reached via rental bicycle or train, Takeno and Kei no Hama. There are lots of places to stay at both beaches, and many tourists flock there during July and August to enjo……

Museum for Wood Culture-A Tadao Ando Design

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondMikata

Experience the powerful heavens in this building designed by Tadao Ando. Found in the forests of Mikata-gun in northern Hyogo on a 415 acre site and built by the internationally-acclaimed architect Tadao Ando. This museum was c……

Transcribing a sutra (Daijyo-ji Temple)

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondMikata

Shakyo (写経) is a Buddhist practice to copy Buddhist scriptures. Though simple in scope, its meaning is profound. This activity is a way to develop a tranquil, bountiful state of mind.

Tracing a picture of a Buddhist image (Daijyo-ji Temple)

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondMikata

Shabutsu (写仏) is a meditative practice of tracing a Buddhist image. It is not merely the act of tracing, but also a time to self reflect. During this type of meditation you’ll be able to find peace and be able to relax.

Tea ceremony (Daijyo-ji Temple)

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondMikata

Experience a simple tea ceremony. If you don’t care for powdered green tea (matcha), it’s okay to try green leaf tea (sencha) instead. Please feel free to come and join us.

Yabu Jinjya Shrine

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondYabu

The beautiful vermilion bridge amongst the autumn leaves is a stunning sight you can't pass up. Yabu Shrine is "Tajima no kuni sangu; Shikinaisha (Myojintaisha)" and it is called, "yabu no myojin-san." This shrine patronizes the……

Takeda Castle Ruins

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondAsago

Discover the castle in the sky, and witness a miraculous autumn sight. "Takeda-jo-seki (Takeda Castle Ruins)" is the nationally well-known castle ruins located atop a mountain. It is well known as "Japan's Machu Picchu" and the ……

Ikuno Ginzan

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondAsago

Experience the romance and history of this 1200 year old silver mine. Here is one of Japan's best-known mines with a history of 1200 years. It was said that Silver had been mined in such an abundance that it seemed the earth was……

Daijyo-ji Temple

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiBeyondMikata

With beautiful paintings on the sliding doors, the entire temple is like a museum. There are 168 nationally important cultural properties, including 165 wall paintings by Ohkyo Maruyama and his disciples, a statue of the eleven-……

Sukyoji Temple

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiIzushi

This zen temple was built in 1392. This was the family temple where the family of Izushi Castle had worshipped for generations. Here the Buddhist monk Takuan Soho created his namesake pickled daikon radish ("takuan"), now popular ……

Izushi Kabuki Theatre

Art, Culture & HistoryDay Trips Around KinosakiIzushi

Built in 1901, this is the oldest Kabuki theatre in the Kansai region. It is the oldest Kabuki theatre building in Japan that is still standing in the same place it was built. After being closed in 1964, this Kabuki theatre was re……