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360° VR panorama of a Zen Garden in Ryousokuin (両足院), part of Kenninji (建仁寺) temple in Kyoto, Japan. Kenninji is part of the Zen sect of Japanese Buddhism, and is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.
It was founded in 1202 by the monk Eisai (Yousai), who introduced Zen Buddhism and the tea ceremony to Japan.
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360° VR panorama to the side of the Haiden in Ebisu shrine (ゑびす神社), Kyoto, Japan. The shrine is built with several pine trees incorporated into the grounds. A variety of smaller plants are grown in pots.
Nearby, along the wall to the west, are a couple of small shrines, known as sessha (摂社) or massha (末社). Also nearby is a vermilion coloured brightly painted rack used for hanging Ema, pieces of wood with prayers written on them.
Ebisu is one of the seven gods of fortune. During his festival, from 8th to 12th of January, Business people visit the shrines dedicated to him to pray for prosperity for their businesses.
The shrine in Kyoto is the third most popular Ebisu shrine in Japan. Ebisu was originally enshrined in Kyoto at the Kenninji Temple, built in 1202. The current shrine was established after the temple burnt down in 1467.
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360° VR panorama just inside the entrance of the Ebisu shrine in Kyoto, Japan. Ebisu is one of the seven gods of fortune. During his festival, from 8th to 12th of January, Business people visit the shrines dedicated to him to pray for prosperity for their businesses.
The shrine in Kyoto is the third most popular Ebisu shrine in Japan. Ebisu was originally enshrined in Kyoto at the Kenninji Temple, built in 1202. The current shrine was established after the temple burnt down in 1467.
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360° VR panorama in the grounds of Toyokuni Shrine (豊国神社), in Kyoto, Japan. A large concrete Torii (鳥居) gate is placed over the entrance to the shrine grounds. A series of orange lanterns line the sides of the path up to the karamon (唐門) gate at the shrine entrance. It is thought that the gate may have been moved here from Fushimi Castle.
Toyokuni Jinja is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉), who unified Japan under his rule. It was originally built in 1599, but then closed in June 1615 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi’s rival who rose to power after his death. In April 1868 Emperor Meiji ordered that the shrine be restored.
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360° VR panorama in the Rengeō-in temple complex in Kyoto, Japan. The long hall to the west is Sanjūsangen-dō (三十三間堂), measuring a length of 120 metres long. The hall’s name literally means ‘Hall with thirty-three spaces between columns’.
Sanjūsangen-dō is registered as a National Treasure of Japan, and contains 1001 wooden statues of the Buddhist deity Sahasrabhuja-arya-avalokiteśvara (Thousand Armed Kannon).
The temple was originally constructed in 1164 by Taira no Kiyomori. The current building of Sanjūsangen-dō dates from 1266 after the original was destroyed in a fire. It has undergone four great renovations since the reconstruction.
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360° VR panorama of Hōtoku Ninomiya Jinja in Odawara, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. The shrine is dedicated to Ninomiya Sontoku, a famous Japanese agricultural leader, philosopher, moralist and economist. He grew up in a poor farming family, and both his parents had died by the time he was 16. In between working the land to feed his brothers, he studied hard and managed to increase the productivity of the land.
He was then recruited to the local government, which was having financial difficulties. He reformed their finances, and was then invited to do the same for several other districts suffering similar problems.
A statue of Ninomiya Sontoku is present at the shrine, and statues are also placed in many Japanese schools. The statue depicts him carrying firewood on his back while reading a book, showing that he was always studying.
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360° VR panorama of the road past Ōwakudani valley (大涌谷) in Hakone, Japan. Steam and sulphur rise out of the ground in this area, the name “Ōwakudani” literally means “Great Boiling Valley”.
In the distance is Kamiyama (神山), the highest peak in Hakone. The area is popular with tourists for its mountains and hot springs.
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360° VR panorama of a path down the mountain towards Ōwakudani valley (大涌谷) in Hakone, Japan. The dead trees at the sides of the path were probably killed off by fumes from the sulphur vents in the valley. The name “Ōwakudani” literally means “Great Boiling Valley”.
In the distance is Kamiyama (神山), the highest peak in Hakone. Covered with clouds in the far distance is Mount Fuji. Hakone is popular with tourists for its mountains and hot springs.
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360° VR panorama of a path through the forest on a mountain in Hakone, Japan. The path leads south to Kamiyama, the highest peak of Hakone, with branches off to Ōwakudani valley and Mt. Komagatake. Hakone is a popular area with tourists, having easy train access from Tokyo and featuring mountains, a large lake, and hot springs.
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360° VR panorama of the Higashi Hongan-ji (東本願寺) temple complex in the Shimogyo-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded in 1602 as part of a plan by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to split the Shin Buddhist sect in two and reduce its influence. Higashi Honganji became the head temple of the Otani-ha branch, while the nearby Nishi Honganji temple became the headquarters of the Hongan-ji branch.
None of the original temple buildings of Higashi Hongan-ji survive, in 1864 a large fire destroyed all buildings and the treasures they contained. The majority of the temple structures today date from between 1879 to 1911. The main hall, Goei-do is the largest wooden structure in Kyoto, and the second largest in Japan.
