Colourful Sensoji Temple @ Asakusa, Tokyo

Sensoji temple also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. This is one of the most popular tourist attraction spot in Tokyo. The distinctive red colour temple with its unique architecture does offers scenery and cultural elements. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. Sensoji temple was completed in 645 and it is Tokyo's oldest temple. The temple was built to honor Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

If you come to the temple using Tokyo subway, you will enter via the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) which is the outer gate of Sensoji temple. There is a long shopping street called Nakamise which leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate which is called Hozomon. You can easily get Japanese souvenir from Nakamise street. There are many typical Japanese items on the shops such as snacks, masks, sweets, folding fans, toys and sinbei. For your information, this temple is very touristic and quite crowded during the day.


Sensoji temple quite crowded especially during weekend as this is a famous tourist attraction in Tokyo.

Entrance to temple compound via Kaminarimon or Thunder gate.

Very busy shopping street of Nakamise.

Shop selling Japanese sandals.

Wow, its so crowded and pack during weekend.

This woman selling rice sweet dumplings which is also known as dango.

Rice sweet dumplings covered in grind peanut.

Try the crispy rice cracker sinbei. The rice crackers was grilled on the spot and flavored with soy sauce.

My super crispy sinbei. But this is very expensive at 100 Yen per piece.

Many types of rice crackers.

Colourful masks

Many lanterns similar to the Sensoji temple.

This is really a famous shopping street with many international visitors.

visitors able to purchase good quality of kimono and yakuta here.

Very cute cakes and biscuit. Its too cute to eat it.

Tokyo Skytree tower is within walking distance from Asakusa.

Reached the second gate.

Place to wash hand before entering Sensoji temple.

You may write notes for the temple.

GPS/Coordinate: 35.714752, 139.796676
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 6.00am to 5.00pm.
Public transport: Asakusa station. You can reach Asakusa station via JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station then transfer to Ginza Subway line for Asakusa. OR Take JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station and switch to Ginza Subway line for Asakusa.

Beautiful Hagia Sophia @ Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia is a holy place which during the history of the building it was a church and a mosque. The architecture are impressive. Now it is converted to a museum. Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Its interior is decorated with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings of great artistic value. You can learn about the historical event by visiting here. I went there in the evening on weekday during month of December and the queue was short. The ticket cost 25 Turkish Lira. Hagia Sophia is just 5 minutes walk and easily accessible from Istanbul Tram Sultanahmet station.


Huge number of visitors in Hagia Sophia. The left section of the museum were closed for restoration work. Hagia Sophia is the second most visited museum in Turkey after Topkapi Palace.

Medallions and pendant chandeliers.

Interior view of the Hagia Sophia, showing Islamic elements.

Apse mosaic of the Theotokos (Virgin Mother and Child).

An artistic meeting of Christianity and Islam in the Hagia Sophia.

The architecture are huge and amazing.

Islamic elements on the dome.

Interior dome.

Walking thru building tunnel to second floor.


Hagia Sophia interior view from second floor.


The Deësis mosaic. This mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, who holds a scroll and makes the sign of benediction.

Another unique mosaic in the museum.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.008559, 28.980164
Address: Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey
Public transport: Sultanahmet Istanbul Tram station.

Kasuga Grand Shrine @ Nara, Japan

Kasuga Grand Shrine which is located in the city of Nara is registered as UNESCO World Heritage site. This Shinto shrine is famous for its hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns. The lanterns are donated by the worshippers. The area surrounding Kasuga shrine is mountainous and there is deer park near by. You will be able to see many deers roam freely around the shrine. kasuga shrine offers great view especially during autumn times with among the best autumn foliage view in Nara. This has been featured in Lonely Planet article.


Walk way to Kasuga Shrine. The path is aligned with hundreds of stone lanterns. These lanterns will only be light up twice a year during Setsubun Mantoro (February 2–4) and Obon Mantoro (August 14–15).

Main entrance to Kasuga shrine.

Kasuga Taisha is UNESCO World Heritage site.

Historic stone lanterns.

The stone lanterns are mostly decorated uniquely as it is donated by worshippers.

Autumn season in Kasuga shrine with hundreds of lanterns.

Famous stone lanterns in Kasuga shrine.

Autumn leafs with many stone lanterns.

Stone lanterns in Kasuga shrine.

Smaller enclaves.

Minamimon.

Kasuga shrine corridor.

Bronze lanterns.

List of contributors to the shrine.

Warning about deer in Nara park. Please take care and respectful to the animal and scared site here.

GPS/Coordinate: 34.681460, 135.848443
Address: 160 Kasuganocho, Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Public transport: Kasuga Taisha is located in the east of Nara Park. It is about a 30 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or a 45 minute walk from JR Nara Station.

Todaiji temple @ Nara, Japan

Todaiji temple or translated as "Great Eastern Temple" is one of the most famous temple in Japan and a landmark of Nara. The main Todaiji temple hall is the the world's largest wooden building. This is where the world largest bronze Buddha statue (Daibutsu) is located in the hall. The Big Buddha is 15 metres tall and represents Vairocana. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara.

Another popular attraction is a pillar with a hole in its base that is the same size as the Daibutsu's nostril. It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will be granted enlightenment in their next life.


Todaiji temple.

Giant bronze Buddha statue.

Buddha statue.

Bishamonten statue in Todaiji temple.

People enjoying the view surrounding the temple.


During a certain festival, the small door will open to show the Buddha face outside the temple.

The main hall is decorated during festival.

Me outside Todaiji temple.

Temple visitors will encounter some deer from the adjacent Nara Park.

GPS/Coordinate: 34.688999, 135.839917
Address: 1 Zoshicho, Nara, Nara Prefecture 630-8211, Japan.
Public transport: Todaiji is located in the northern part of Nara Park. It is about a 30 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or about a 45 minute walk from JR Nara Station.
Admission fee: 500 Yen