Ready to go temple hoppin? Temples in Asia are places where local culture, religion, family, and art meet and are on display, hence we travelers are so attracted to them. I’ve planned entire trips around temples I want to visit (or stay in), so follow along as I share what I’ve found!
This article was written by Sarah Hodge, prolific writer and lover of spiritual & cultural sights in Japan. A convenient one-hour trip from Central Tokyo via the JR line, Kamakura is a history and nature lover’s paradise. Doing a Kamakura day trip is not only easy but also a great way to immerse yourself in …
South Korea’s second city and largest port, Busan, is home to a surprisingly impressive array of breathtaking temples. Busan’s temples are a varied lot, from sea-facing temple complexes to ancient mountain retreats with Buddhas carved into cliff walls, and everything in between. For this reason, temples are surely one of the things South Korea is …
Fo Guang Shan (佛光山 or Foguangshan) is one of the four large Buddhist organizations in Taiwan. The order’s headquarters, Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan, is one of Taiwan’s top attractions. The enormous, sprawling Fo Guang Shan Temple complex more than doubled in size with the 2011 addition of the Fo Guang Shan …
One of the most enticing draws of Southeast Asia is the abundance of mesmerizingly gorgeous temples dotting the landscape. Shimmering with gold, dominating cityscapes, beckoning the masses to devotion – Southeast Asian temples are testaments the region’s rich colonial history, cultural diversity, religious syncretism, and piousness of its people. In this article I have …
Chiang Mai is one of the top destinations in a country that is one of the most visited in the world. Including domestic tourists, 10 million people visit Chiang Mai every year (pre-2020 figures, of course!) The amazing assortment of temples in Chiang Mai is one of the city’s greatest draws. Chiang Mai was once …
When it comes to places to seek religious wisdom, the United States is not typically the first one that comes to mind. Some might think of Jerusalem, with its rich religious heritage and diversity of faiths. Others may think of India and its multitude of temples and other sacred places dotting the landscape. Yet others …
This article was written by Monique Skidmore, award-winning anthropologist, writer at Tripanthropologist, and Myanmar expert. See her full bio at the end. There are so many beautiful and unusual temples or pagodas in Myanmar (Burma) that choosing which to visit can be quite the challenge. As one of the most devoutly Buddhist places on earth, …
I’ve been living in Taiwan since 2008, and I’ve always loved exploring and photographing the incredible array breathtaking temples in Taipei. In recent years, I’ve traveled to several neighboring countries to visit and write about their temples (for example, see my articles on the most beautiful temples in Southeast Asia, Busan, Chiang Mai, and Myanmar). …
Haedong Yonggunsa, or Haedong Yonggung Temple, is one of the most impressive Buddhist temples in South Korea. It is without a doubt one of Busan’s top temples and makes my list of top 50 things to do in Busan. Haedong Yonggungsa is famous for its picturesque seaside location. Busan’s “Temple on the Coast” is also …
When I was planning my most recent trip to South Korea, the thing I was most excited about was visiting Busan’s incredible array of temples. The tough thing was deciding when to go. Visiting for the Buddha’s birthday was an obvious choice. The event is a major national holiday in South Korea. At that time, …
