| We've seen Greece, traveled to Hawaii, and taken | | | | store and display sacred Buddhist objects, and some |
| that cruise to the Caribbean. Well, the fun's just | | | | of them used to, or still, function as monasteries. |
| starting as we pack up and head for a great Fall | | | | The infamous Mount Koya Koyasan is the center of |
| destination, Japan! Japan in October is still warm, but | | | | Shingon Buddhism. Over 100 temples stand in the |
| not hot and humid anymore. The weather in October | | | | small town on top of the wooded mountain. Koyasan |
| is very comfortable for traveling. | | | | is one of the best places to experience a night at a |
| In northern regions and higher elevations, trees are | | | | temple. About 50 temples in the area function as |
| turning beautiful Fall colors, and the sites are majestic. | | | | shukubo, where tourists are welcome to overnight, |
| Colorful leaves, koyo, are to the Japanese Autumn | | | | try shojin ryori, the vegetarian cuisine of monks, and |
| what cherry blossoms are to Spring. The viewing of | | | | participate in the morning prayers. |
| Autumn leaves has been a popular activity among | | | | The typical Japanese meal consists of a bowl of rice, |
| the Japanese for centuries and today still draws large | | | | a bowl of miso soup, pickled vegetables and fish or |
| numbers of viewers to famous spots. | | | | meat. As an island nation, the Japanese take great |
| Each year, starting in late September, the koyo front | | | | pride in their seafood. A wide variety of fish, squid, |
| is slowly moving to the south from the northern | | | | octopus, eel, and shellfish appear in all kinds of dishes |
| island of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower | | | | from sushi to tempura. |
| elevations of central and southern Japan. | | | | From mount Fiji, the beautiful Koya Front, to the |
| Temples are the places of worship in Japanese | | | | famous temples, Japan is beautiful in October. Book |
| Buddhism. Virtually every Japanese municipality has at | | | | your favorite destination today, and take that |
| least one temple, while large cultural centers like | | | | "Golden Getaway. |
| Kyoto have several thousand of them. Temples | | | | |