Not too far from the Musashi Koganei Station (武蔵小金井駅) near Kodaira City (小平市) on the western side of Tokyo you can find the Buddhist Temple known as Kaiganji (海岸寺). There you will see these water lilies. I suppose they could be lotus, but I think lotus are above, rather than on, the water.

Posted on April 20th, 2012 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, flower lovers guide to tokyo, koganei, lanterns. Comments Off on Buddhist Water Lilies

In just one more month, my favorite part of Tokyo (Yanaka) will look like this. I took today’s photo of some of Tokyo’s finest cherry blossoms at Tennoji (天王寺) on April 8, 2010.

Posted on March 8th, 2012 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, cherry blossoms, sakura, temples, Tokyo, yanaka, 桜. Comments: 2

A head shot of the Kamakura Daibutsu doesn’t look that impressive unless a pigeon (or two or four) is on his head to show just how enormous he is.

Posted on January 17th, 2012 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, kamakura. Comments: 2

巣鴨とげ抜き地蔵

Sugamo (巣鴨) is famous for being the old ladies’ Harajuku. However, when I captured this image of the well known and popular statue which cures ailments, it was young ladies looking for a little supernatural help.

Posted on December 21st, 2011 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, people, sugamo, Tokyo. Comments: 2

Heirinji (平林寺)

If you are in Tokyo and want to visit a Zen temple not too far away then Heirinji should be on your itinerary. Avoid weekends and holidays and you may be the only one wandering through this oasis.

Directions: Heirinji is about a mile walk from the Niiza Train Station (新座駅) or you can take a bus that will take you right there. Niiza is about 30 minutes and 450 yen (by train) from Ikebukuro in Tokyo.

Posted on November 29th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, heirinji, temples, thatch roof. Comments Off on The Peaceful Forest Temple (Heirinji or 平林寺)