Learn about the Top 5 Tourist Spots in Japan
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| Hello, and welcome back to JapanesePod101.com. |
| I’m Eric. |
| In this lesson we will talk about the "Top 5 tourist spots in Japan". |
| The first topic on the list is the (J: Fushimi Inari) shrine in Kyoto, which is often ranked within Japan’s top attraction for foreign tourists. |
| This shrine was built some 1,300 years ago, and it |
| is famous for its thousands of vermilion (J: torii) or gates that arch over a narrow and twisting path |
| up the hill to the main shrine complex. |
| After a few hours of walking along the whole (j: torii) or gate trail, you can enjoy wonderful views of Kyoto city from the top of the mountain. |
| The next topic is the Hiroshima |
| Peace Memorial Museum, known as |
| (J: Hiroshima Heiwa Kinen Shiryokan). |
| This museum was built to show how Hiroshima was |
| devastated after the atomic bomb attack in |
| 1945, and as a symbol to wish for a peaceful |
| future. |
| The museum’s displays includes photos and |
| belongings left by the victims, as well as a |
| life-sized diorama of the bomb victims to show the tragedy of the event. |
| The museum is known to be very balanced in its |
| presentation of the controversial event, and |
| well worth a visit regardless of your nationality. |
| The next topic is about a magnificent |
| floating shrine, called (J: Itsukushima Jinjya) |
| shrine in Hiroshima. |
| This shrine, built about 900 years ago, is |
| well-known for its architectural beauty and its |
| structure of being built in the sea. |
| During high tide, the shrine and its 16-meter-high |
| “great gate” appear to be floating on the water. |
| When the tide is low, you can walk closer to the |
| gate to experience its magnificence. |
| The next topic is the gold-plated |
| temple, known as (J: Kinkakuji) in Kyoto. |
| Formally known as (J: Rokuonji), the temple was |
| originally built in the 14th century as a |
| retirement villa for (J: Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu). |
| The villa is said to be designed to realize Buddhist |
| paradise on earth, and each gold leaf has |
| been hand-crafted and applied by specialists. |
| On a clear day, you can enjoy the striking beauty of |
| the reflection of the golden pavilion on the calm |
| pond. The temple also looks elegant when it is |
| covered in a blanket of snow. |
| Last but not least is the (J: |
| Todai-ji) temple in Nara Prefecture. |
| Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage |
| Site, this temple was built in the 8th century by |
| the Emperor (J: Shomu tenno) to protect the country against |
| horrible epidemics and disasters. |
| (J: Todaiji) is famous for its Great statue of Buddha |
| which is known as (J: Nara no Daibutsu). It is |
| 18 meters high, and is the tallest bronze statue |
| of Buddha in Japan. |
| Another popular attraction is a rear pillar of the |
| temple that has a small hole in its base. |
| Legend says that the size of the hole is the same as |
| the Great Buddha’s nostrils, and if you could |
| squeeze through this hole, you could attain |
| enlightenment in your next life. |
| That’s all we have for this lesson. |
| Japan has a lot to do and see, but where would you like to go the most? |
| Leave us a comment and let us know! |
| Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next time. Until then, bye! |
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