Honpuku Temple — Attraction in Awaji

Our bus tour travelled to the Buddhist Honpukuji water temple on Awaji island. You climb up a bit of a slope to enter through a beautiful Japanese cemetery, where an older lady was diligently cleaning and tidying it up. The reflection pool with its gorgeous floating lotus plants was next, which are the symbol of the Buddha. The stairs are in the center and lead down deep into the shrine below.

Down the steep stairs is the water temple and no pictures are allowed inside. You have to take your shoes off to enter, which is traditional in Japan. There are multiple relics behind metal gates, including the Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of medicine and healing. There and benches to sit and reflect or take in the temples sights. A very peaceful and relaxing place to visit and a...

Great temple if you're a Tadao Ando fan. Would suggest going out here if you're a true architect geek as it's rather difficult to get out. We only made it thanks to help from locals. From Osaka: take the JR train to Maiko Station, which is just at the bridge leading over to Awaji Island. You need to exit the station and take the stairs/escalators right up to the level of the bridge. We really needed help from a local to find this. Was around 610yen to get to the second stop on the motor way. Then a 15 minute walk randomly down quiet farm roads till the temple (you will need google maps and data to get there, there's no English signs). We also went to the Westin Hotel resort to check out the amazing/large...

Classic Ando.

Ample parking near the older temple below. Walk up 2-3 mins to the modern temple, which is hidden behind a small wood and a bunch of foreboding concrete walls. The lotus pond is classic, with layers of greenery giving way to the nearby town and mountains beyond.

Parting the waters and descend the stairway into the sanctuary. There is a nominal entry fee and you remove your shoes to enter and circulate around the buddhist statues. The control and play of light along the concrete and painted wood is warm and never cold despite being...