Shojuin Temple

Shojuin Temple is a Buddhist temple near Uji in Kyoto Prefecture. It used to be a fairly niche destination for sightseeing, but recently it has become increasingly popular among travelers, photography enthusiasts, and Instagram users due to its unusual design. The temple’s most unique feature is a heart-shaped window on one of the paper walls that looks out onto the gardens. The heart shape, while of course ubiquitous in popular culture, is actually a traditional Japanese design that is said to invoke happiness. The same room also features a colorful ceiling with artistic designs recently completed in 2017.
In summer, the temple holds a wind chime festival during which over 2,000 wind chimes are placed throughout the temple and grounds, creating not only a treat for the eyes, but also a unique soundscape. The festival lasts from early June through mid-September, and different kinds of wind chimes are displayed during different times: hydrangea wind chimes in June and July, sunflower wind chimes in July and August, and cosmos wind chimes in September. There are also wind chimes designed to represent features of each of the 47 prefectures of Japan, so make sure to keep an eye out for those as well.

Photographs provided by Shojuin Temple.