Forever playing second fiddle to Itsukushima, Daishō-in is a beautiful temple in its own right with plenty of buildings to explore and hat-wearing Buddhas to admire. It sits slightly higher up the island with great views of the bay. The temple has long been a prestigious site as Kōbō Daishi, the founder of the Shingon Sect, is enshrined here. Exploring the different buildings will lead you to many unusual sites, like the 500 rakan (disciples of Buddha) statues -- all with unique facial expressions (and many knitted hats) -- and the 1,000 figurines of the Buddhist deity Fudō.
The ultimate guide to Japan travel
The ultimate guide to Japan travel
The ultimate guide to Japan travel