Online dictionary of geography and travels in Japan: world heritage

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Byodoin temple

平等院
alternative words: Byodoin, Byodo in, Byoudouin temple, Byoudouin, Byoudou in
keywords: kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto prefecture
related web sites: http://www.byodoin.or.jp
explanation: Located in the south of Kyoto prefecture at Uji city, Byodoin had been first served as a private villa of Fujiwara Michinaga then transformed by his son, Yorimichi, to a Buddhist temple in 1052. The main building commonly called "Phenix hall" extending its side structure and reflecting its image on a pond is really pictorial. The statue of Amida nyorai, inside the hall is a typical Buddhist sculpture of Heiand period. The picture of Byodoin appears on the backside of 10 yen coin.

Ginkakuji Temple

銀閣寺慈照寺
alternative words: Ginkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku Temple, Ginkakuji, Ginkaku-ji, Jishoji Temple, Jisho Temple, Jishoji, Jisho-ji, Silver Pavilion
keywords: garden , kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto City , Kinkakuji Temple
related web sites: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/ginkakuji/ , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/kyoto.htm
explanation: Ginkakuji Temple, located in the eastern hill of Kyoto city, has been built by the 9th Shogun of Muromachi, Ashikaga Yoshimasa at the end of 15th century. He was incompetent as politician, but loving the arts of tee ceremony and gardens, he is considered as one of the best protectors of the art of that period. Contrary to Kinkakuji Temple which deserves the name of "Golden Pavilion", Ginkakuji is not covered by silver leaves because of an influence of "Zen".

Himeji Castle

姫路城白鷺城
alternative words: Himejijo castle, Himejijo, Himeji-jo, Himeji jo, Shirasagi castle, Shirasagijo castle, Himeji
keywords: castle , world heritage
related topics: Hyogo Prefecture
related web sites: http://www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/himeji.htm , http://www.sanynet.ne.jp/~gino/
explanation: The town of Himeji has been since long times an important place for the maritime and terrestrial traffic and has developed as a castle and post town. The history of the castle began by the construction of a fort by Governor Akamatsu Norimura of Harima county (Himeji region) in the first year of Genko era (1331). Then, his son, Sadanori transformed it as a castle of his habitation in the 3rd year of Shohe era (1348).

Horyuji Temple

法隆寺
alternative words: Horyu-ji Temple, Horyu Temple, Horyuji, Horyu-ji, Horyu ji, Temple Horyu, Houryuuji temple, Houryuuji
keywords: nara , temple , world heritage
related topics: Nara Prefecture
related web sites: http://www.horyuji.or.jp , http://www.mahoroba.ne.jp/~3e/horyuji.html , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/horyuji.htm
explanation: Horyuji Temple is located in the fief of Prince Shotoku, Land of Ikaruga: there, you can see a range of the oldest wooden buildings of the world such as Kondo and Gojuno-to (five-storied pagoda). Moreover inside buildings, there exist a plenty of valuable art works and it is considered as one of the most important temples of the Japanese culture. It has been chosen as a human heritage of UNESCO in 1993.

Itsukushima Shrine

厳島神社厳島宮島
alternative words: Itsukushima, Miyajima shrine, Miyajima jingu, Miyajima
keywords: shrine , tourist resort , world heritage
related topics: Hiroshima Prefecture , Inland sea , Matsushima , Amanohashidate , Taira_no_kiyomori
related web sites: http://www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/miyajima/jinja/jinja.htm , http://www.gambo-ad.com
explanation: Located on a tiny island in Inland sea, Ikutsushima shrine was built in 593 during the reign of Empress Suiko and enlarged by Taira no Kiyomori in 12th century. It worships Princesses Ichikishima, Tagori and Tagitsu, and is considered as a protector of sailors. It belongs to "3 Japanese famous views" with Amanohashidate and Matsushima. Itsukushima mean "holy island" while Miyajima means "shrine island". The shrine has been enlisted in UNESCO's world heritage since 1996 for its exceptional architecture.

Kinkakuji Temple

金閣寺鹿苑寺
alternative words: Kinkaku-ji temple, Kinkaku temple, Kinkakuji, Kinkaku-ji, Rokuonji temple, Rokuon temple, Rokuonji, Rokuon-ji, Golden Pavilion
keywords: garden , kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto City , Ginkakuji Temple
related web sites: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/kinkakuji/ , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/kinkaku.htm
explanation: Kinkakuji Temple is a strange building: it serves as a residence as well as a Buddhist temple. In 1397, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu of the Muromachi Shogunate founded it as a hill-side cottage. In 1419, After his death, a son transformed it to a Zen temple and renamed it Rokuon-ji from Yoshimitsu's religious name. In 1950, it has been burned completely by an arson and has been restored since then.

Kiyomizudera temple

清水寺
alternative words: Kiyomizu temple, Kiyomizudera, Kiyomizu dera, Seisuiji, Seisui ji
keywords: kyoto , temple , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto city , Yasaka shrine
related web sites: http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp
explanation: Buddhist temple located in the east of Kyoto city near Yasaka shrine. Though its origin is quite old (according to a temple's document, it would be built by a famous Japanese general, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 798), because of repeated natural disasters and wars of sect struggles, the actual building dates only 17the century. Kiyomizudera is rather renown by its strange architecture: being built on an abrupt hill side, it owns a balustrade supported by several long columns.

Nijo Castle

二条城
alternative words: Nijojo Castle, Nijo jo Castle, Nijojo, Nijoujo, Nijo jo, Nijou jo
keywords: castle , kyoto , world heritage
related topics: Kyoto city
related web sites: http://www.shirofan.com/shiro/kinki/nijyou/nijyou.html , http://www.city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/nijojo/
explanation: Castle served as a residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Edo shogunate, during his stay at Kyoto. It was completed in 1603 but lost its main keep (Honmaru) in 1750 by a fire, which was rebuilt in 1827. The remaining auxiliary keep (Ninomaru) has been designated as a national treasure because of a good conservation of Azuchi Momoyama style (late 16th century).

Shiretoko peninsula

知床半島
alternative words: Shire-toko Peninsula, Shretokohanto, Shiretoko-hanto, Shiretoko hanto, Shiretoko-hantou, Shiretoko hantou, Shiretoko
keywords: hokkaido , peninsula , world heritage
related topics: Hokkaido Prefecture , Nemuro city
related web sites: http://www.aurens.or.jp/hp/theRAUSU/default.html , http://www.rausu-town.jp
explanation: Peninsula of a volcanic origin, located in the east of Hokkaido near Nemuro with the total length of 65 km. The area is mountainous with Mt. Rausu (1661 m) as the highest peak. The cost is very steep and scattered fisher's villages are linked only by ships. The wild nature being well preserved, the area belongs to Shiretoko National Park. In March, you can admire a frozen sea, rare spectacle in Japan. Since 2005, Shiretoko peninsula has been enlisted in World Heritage of UNESCO for its exceptional ecosystem

Todaiji Temple

東大寺
alternative words: Todai-ji Temple, Todai Temple, Todaiji, Todai-ji, Toudaiji Temple, Toudai Temple, Toudaiji, Toudai-ji
keywords: nara , temple , world heritage
related topics: Nara City , Great Buddha of Nara
related web sites: http://www.todaiji.or.jp
explanation: Toudaiji Temple had been the headquarters of all the official Buddhist temples constructed by Emperor Shomu in each province of Japan. It has been suffered several times from the war casualties so it has lost the initial dimension. Nevertheless the actual hall of Daibutsu, where the great Buddha has been installed, has a frontage of 57m with 47.5m of height and is the world biggest wooden building.

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