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!
Dadaocheng (大稻埕) is undoubtedly one of Taipei’s most compelling neighborhoods and best places to explore on foot. While Wanhua, the historical Old City to the south, is a magnet for tourists, serious history, food & culture fans can’t miss Dadaocheng. Twatutia, as Dadaocheng is pronounced in the Hokkien (Taiwanese) language, was once the second largest …
I’ve been living in Taiwan since 2008, and I’ve always loved exploring and photographing the incredible array breathtaking temples in Taipei and surrounding New Taipei City. 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, …
Tainan is the original capital city of Taiwan, before it was moved to Taipei. Today, it is known for its historical sights and night markets – it is even considered by many to be the country’s food capital. Tainan’s temples feature prominently on my list of things to do in Tainan. In fact, the city has …
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, …
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 …
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 and most popular places to visit in Kaohsiung. The enormous, sprawling Fo Guang Shan Temple complex more than doubled in size with …
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 …
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, …
Temple lovers, hiking fans, and anyone looking to get a little off-the-beaten-path in Busan, you have to add Seokbulsa Temple (Seokbul Temple, more correctly, since “–sa” means “temple”) to your Busan bucket list. This is no ordinary Korean temple; Seokbulsa is built into the sides of sandstone cliffs on Geumjeongsan (Mt. Geumjeong), the highest mountain …
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 …
