Established in 1236 by an imperial chancellor with ambitions to rival Nara’s grand temples, Tōfuku-ji rose as a monumental testament to Kyoto’s spiritual and architectural aspirations. At its helm was Enni Ben’en (1202–1280), a revered monk fresh from China, where he had immersed himself in Rinzai Zen teachings. Under his guidance, Tōfuku-ji became one of Kyoto’s Five Great Zen Temples, an enduring symbol of Zen’s deep roots in Japan.

Formally known as Rokuonji, the Golden Pavilion is richly adorned with shimmering pure gold leaf and casts an impressive reflection off the surrounding waters of Kyōko-chi, the mirror pond. An icon of Japanese architecture, it is listed as a ‘Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto’ as a World Heritage Site. The pavilion’s striking beauty, especially when mirrored in the still waters below, exemplifies the harmony between architecture and nature that defines traditional Japanese d

With over 200,000 tombstones snaking through nearly two kilometre’s of the sacred Wakayama mountain forest, the Okunoin cemetery is the epicentre of ancient Shingon Buddhism and the mausoleum site for one of the most revered men in the religious history of Japan. Tucked away in the shadowy heart of Mount Kōya, Japan’s holiest mountain, Okunoin isn’t just Japan’s largest cemetery it’s a spiritual artery that pulses with esoteric energy, ancient Buddhist tradition and a deeply