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!
Lion’s Head Mountain (also known as Shitoushan or 獅頭山) is one of the most underrated attractions in Taiwan. Whether you enjoy hiking, are interested in Taiwan’s Buddhist and folk religious culture, want to spend a night in a temple, or simply want to get off the beaten track in Taiwan, Lion’s Head Mountain should be …
Read moreVisiting Lion’s Head Mountain and Nanzhuang, Taiwan
Museums have never really been my thing. I lived in Taipei for five years before I ever stepped foot in the National Palace Museum, one of the most important museums in the Chinese-speaking world. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the comparatively small Museum of World Religions Taipei (世界宗教博物館), the only …
Read moreFinding Peace at the Museum of World Religions Taipei
OK, so there are already MANY lists of best Chiang Mai temples out there. This only makes sense because: 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! The amazing assortment of …
Qufu, China is a small but ancient town 550 kilometers south of Beijing in Shandong. This province is famous for three things: Qingdao beer, Tai Shan (Mount Tai), and Qufu, the hometown of Confucius. The Temple of Confucius Qufu is the largest and most important Confucius temple in the world, and together with the adjoining …
Read moreVisiting the Cemetery of Confucius and Temple of Confucius, Qufu, China
In 2018 I visited Wakayam, a remote and wild region of Japan south of Osaka and Nagoya, to walk parts of the Kumano Kodo, a network of ancient pilgrimage trails. These trails are easily accessible, making them one of the best pilgrimages in the world for travelers. Besides these amazing hot springs at the eastern …
Read moreKumano Sanzan and Ise Grand Shrine: 4 Gorgeous Temples on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
Almost exactly 10 years ago as I write this, I left my home in Canada to go traveling and teach English in China. I had traveled extensively before that, but this was the first time I was leaving on a one-way ticket. It was a path that eventually led me to Taiwan, where I still …
Read moreA Night on the Peak of Tai Shan, China’s Holiest Mountain
On my recent 10-day winter trip to Japan, my plan was to not step foot in a single city, hike parts of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, one of the world’s best pilgrimages that travelers can easily embark on, and only stay in traditional minshuku, ryokan, and temples. For the latter, doing a temple stay in …
Read moreEko In Koyasan: An Unforgettable Temple Stay in Koyasan in Winter
A guest post by Rohit Agarwal of Trans India Travels. You may worship a certain god or follow a certain religion, but when it comes to spirituality, no religion is different. Spiritualism comes from your soul, and the philosophies of every religion, no matter how different, will all help you reach out to your soul. …
Read more7 Pilgrimage Sites in India that Every Spiritual Seeker Must Visit
